Pubdate: Fri, 05 Nov 2004 Source: Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC) Copyright: 2004 Sun Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987 Author: Brock Vergakis Note: apparent 150 word limit on LTEs Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States) CAMPUS DRUG BUSTS SHOW RISE Brunswick County Schools Considering Some Solutions Brunswick County Schools continued to see an increase in the number of students caught on campus in possession of a controlled substance last year, according to a state report released this week. The 2003-04 Annual Report on School Crime and Violence shows a statewide trend of an increasing drug problem. "We're all trying to come up with a solution to this," said Shirley Babson, chairwoman of the Brunswick County Board of Education. "It's been a concern of mine for a long time." In Brunswick County, 74 students were caught with a controlled substance last year. Five years ago, 44 students were caught. Babson said a committee will meet in the near future to examine the problem. One option being considered to curb the problem is rewarding students who voluntarily allow themselves to be tested for drugs and are found to be clean, she said. That would primarily be used at the middle-school level, she said. Drug tests for high-school students is another option, she said. That's being done in other parts of the state. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system started testing students who participate in athletics and other extracurricular activities this year through funding from a federal grant. Drug possession was by far the largest reported crime in Brunswick County Schools. The only other crime that came close was possession of a weapon, excluding firearms and explosives, with 41 reported incidents. There was one report of possession of a firearm and three reported assaults. The problem with drugs is they are most frequently brought on campus to be sold, said William Lassiter, school safety specialist for the N.C. Center for Prevention of School Violence. "We find possession of drugs as one of the precursors to [violent] incidents, also. When a child brings $2,000 to $3,000 in drugs on campus, they're most likely going to bring something to protect that investment," Lassiter said. The Brunswick County Schools system has been working with the Sheriff's Office, Social Services and court officials to find solutions to the drug problem and make parents more aware. Awareness by teachers and school officials also could be one of the reasons more students are being caught, Lassiter said. "I think we're doing a better job of catching kids. We're starting to send the message that if you bring drugs on campus, you're going to get caught," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin