Pubdate: Mon, 29 Jan 2007
Source: Macomb Daily, The (MI)
Copyright: 2007 The Macomb Daily
Contact:  http://www.macombdaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2253
Author: Gordon Wilczynski, Macomb Daily Staff Writer

HOT LINE LETS STUDENTS ALERT COPS TO TROUBLE

System Hooked Up Because of Rise in Drug Use, Especially Heroin.

Fraser police are trying to get Fraser High School  students to help 
themselves by using a toll-free hot  line to tell police who is 
getting in trouble and where  trouble is about to start.

All calls to the hot line are confidential. No one but  the caller 
knows who made the call.

Fraser Acting Public Safety Director George Rouhib and  DARE Officer 
Lisa Pettyes said the new program, now in  effect, was started 
because of an increase in drugs and alcohol among middle school and 
high school  students.

Any student who knows of a party where underage  drinking will take 
place or knows that a student is  taking drugs or drinking alcohol 
can call (888)  709-0838 to inform authorities.

"Sure it seems like squealing or tattling, but the call  can very 
easily save their friend's life or save a  friend from getting in 
serious trouble," said Pettyes.

"Heroin has made a comeback and we have to stop its use  before it's 
too late for some of these kids."

Rouhib said he too often sees the negative effects  drugs and alcohol 
have on kids. He said the kids turn  to armed robberies, home 
robberies, shoplifting and  prostitution to get money to pay for their habit.

Rouhib said Fraser undercover officers recently  followed a Fraser 
teenager to the Interstate 75-Davison  area in Detroit and watched 
the teenager buy drugs. He  said a 7-year-old kid came out of a drug 
house on a  residential street and sold the buyers heroin.

"Back a few years ago these kids would smoke  marijuana," said 
Rouhib. "Now, they are shooting and  snorting heroin and have no idea 
how extremely  dangerous it is."

Rouhib said it is unfortunate that police are dealing  with an 
abundance of overdoses. He said police often  find spaced out 
youngsters and have to rush them to a  hospital and then call their parents.

Fraser police Lt. Jeff Newton said the department is  paying for the 
extra service from a grant offered by  the Michigan Highway Safety 
and Planning Department. He  said Roseville and Eastpointe also are involved.

"We have found that kids want to tell us what is going  on but they 
are afraid their names will get out," said  Pettyes. "Our drug unit 
will get the information  provided over the telephone tip line and 
start an  investigation."

Pettyes said the person calling doesn't have to give  police their 
name, and their telephone number will not  be seen on caller I.D. She 
said kids just want to make  sure they cannot be identified.

"Our goal is to concentrate on eradicating heroin use  in our area," 
said Rouhib. "There is an inordinate  amount of heroin here."

Pettyes said Fraser police sell drug testing kits so  parents can 
test their children. The department sells  20 to 50 kits a week at $10 each.

"Kids sometimes buy them to prove they're clean, and  often spouses 
are using them to show the other spouse  that they're not using 
drugs," said Pettyes.

For more information on the program call (586)  293-1425.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine