Pubdate: Thu,  5 Sep 2002
Source: Fremont Tribune (NE)
Contact:  2002 Fremont Tribune.
Website: http://www.fremontneb.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2512
Author: Beverly J. Lydick, Tribune Staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SCHOOLS GET EDUCATION ON DRUG DETECTION

"At least they're only drinking beer, and not doing drugs."

When it comes excusing teens using alcohol, Lt. Tom Schwarten of the 
Nebraska State Patrol said he's heard that one before.

Tuesday, the drug recognition expert had something to say in return about 
teen-agers and drug abuse in America.

Speaking before Fremont Public School administrators, counselors, 
psychologists and nurses, Schwarten said 2,315 youth died in this country 
in 1996 as a result of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes.

At the request of Fremont High School principal Joe Sajevic, the patrolman 
and school officials participated in a all-day workshop titled "Drug and 
Alcohol Abuse in the Academic Environment."

Forty school officials learned to identify seven categories of drugs and 
recognize signs and symptoms of their use. Among drugs studied were central 
nervous system depressants such as alcohol, barbiturates and anti-anxiety 
tranquilizers; central nervous system stimulants such as cocaine and 
amphetamines; hallucinogens such as LSD and Ecstasy; phencyclidine or PCP; 
narcotic analgesics such as codeine, heroin and percodan; inhalants 
originating in solvents, aerosols and anesthetic gases; and cannabis, such 
as marijuana and hashish.

Sajevic said the session was a pro-active means of dealing with a potential 
situation.

"We don't have a huge (drug abuse) problem," he said, "but that doesn't 
mean we just put our head in the sand. We want to address it."

Tuesday's workshop was not meant to be "punitive," he continued, but 
rather, a way of "helping kids get the help they need."

If a student is suspected of drug use, he or she will assessed by an 
assistant principal, and parents or guardians will be notified. If the 
student and parents agree to get the abuser into a treatment program, the 
number of days of suspension from school is reduced, Sajevic said.

"Our primary goal is to get (students) some help," the principal said. 
Among statistics complied by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Service's Administration 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, and 
presented by Schwarten:

*Alcohol was involved in 41 percent of all fatal crashes.

*More than 80 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes with positive 
blood alcohol contents had level exceeding 0.08 percent.

*Alcohol involvement rate for young drivers based on the total 
licensed-driver populations, is about twice that of the over-21-age driver.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager