Pubdate: Thu, 02 Dec 2004
Source: Daily Independent (Ashland, KY)
Copyright: 2004 The Daily Independent, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.dailyindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1573
Author: Kirsten Stanley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

LAWRENCE STEPS UP DRUG PREVENTION

LOUISA The Lawrence County School District has stepped up its efforts to 
prevent and treat drug abuse in its schools.

The school district will now use a federally-funded full-time drug 
counselor and drug-sniffing dogs to help quash drug activity.

Superintendent Jeff May said there is not a serious problem in the 
district, but even one case of drug use among students is too many.

"We take this very seriously," May said. "The board has been very strict in 
dealing with drug activity in the schools and we will continue to do so."

Operation UNITE will provide the school counselors in its 29-county 
coverage area, including Lawrence. The counselors will try to intervene in 
cases where students are using drugs and will work with students who have 
problems because of substance abuse in their families.

Providing counselors is part of a $1.6 million education initiative by 
UNITE. The plan also includes reimbursing school districts up to $2,000 to 
pay for drug testing for employees and students, assessing how the schools 
are providing anti-drug education and helping with improvements, training 
teachers to incorporate drug-abuse prevention information into lessons, and 
providing teaching materials if necessary.

May said education, especially of elementary school students, is the key to 
preventing kids from experimenting with drugs.

UNITE stands for Unlawful Narcotics Investigation, Treatment and Education. 
U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset, got $8 million set aside early in 2003 to 
create the program, and has since gotten an additional $16 million.

The program's goal is to increase drug investigations, provide more 
treatment for addicts and boost anti-drug education efforts in Rogers' 
district, where he and others have described the level of substance abuse 
as epidemic.

The Lawrence school board also voted during its last meeting to set aside 
money for drug-dog patrols.

The dogs will be brought into the schools occasionally and will also be on 
duty at extracurricular activities such as ball games and dances, May explained.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager