Pubdate: Sat, 11 Mar 2006
Source: Wichita Eagle (KS)
Copyright: 2006 The Wichita Eagle
Contact: http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/editorial/4664538.htm
Website: http://www.wichitaeagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/680
Author: Stan Finger

STUDENTS ARRESTED IN DRUG INCIDENTS

Four students at two Wichita public schools were  arrested on drug
charges and eight others were  suspended Thursday, but district
officials said the  incidents do not reflect a growing drug problem in
  local schools.

A 14-year-old girl was arrested Thursday and eight  other students
were suspended at Wilbur Middle School  on Thursday, said district
spokeswoman Susan Arensman.

Police said the case involves OxyContin -- a strong,  addictive pain
medication. OxyContin was brought to  school twice this week, police
said.

"I don't know how long it's been going on at Wilbur,"  said Wichita
police Capt. Terry Nelson. "We don't think  it's something that just
started."

Also on Thursday, three Heights High students -- a  16-year-old girl
and two 15-year-old girls -- were  arrested on school grounds and face
charges linked to  possessing and attempting to sell ecstasy pills.

But Wichita school officials said that overall,  drug-related
incidents are down this year.

"It's just timing," Arensman said of the two incidents  on the same
day. "Timing is everything."

There were 130 drug-related incidents during the  2004-05 school year,
Arensman said, involving  everything from ecstasy and other "designer
drugs" to  marijuana.

The year before, there were 145 incidents, she said.

"When you consider how big our district is, that's not  very many
incidents considering it's a whole year,"  Arensman said.

The Wilbur investigation is continuing, Nelson said  Friday. But "the
kids are scared," he said. "They don't  want to get in trouble."

Designer drugs such as ecstasy are a little more common  among
students than in years past, Arensman said, but  marijuana remains the
most commonly used illegal drug.

As part of the district's zero-tolerance policy, she  said, students
involved in drug abuse or illegal drug  activity are suspended for
five days pending a hearing.  Depending on the outcome of the hearing,
they can be  expelled for as many as 186 days.

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NOW YOU KNOW

Drug Incidents Involving Usd 259 Students

Four students in two different Wichita public schools  were arrested
for drug-related offenses Thursday, but  district officials say the
arrests do not reflect a  spike in drug activity among students. There
has  actually been a slight drop in drug-related incidents  involving
students so far this school year, they said.

2004-05: 130

2003-04: 145

2002-03: 170

2001-02: 127

Source: USD 259 
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPF Florida)