Date: Fri 12-Jan-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

drug-abuse-DARE

Full Text:

Pre-teens targeted in fight against drug abuse

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

For some reason, something happens to students between the time they enter

middle school and the time they leave three years later that often leads to

increased substance abuse. Whatever the reason for the change in attitude,

school officials plan to do something about it. They shared their ideas with

the Board of Education Tuesday night.

"Something is happening between sixth grade and eighth grade. Something

drastic," explained Judy Blanchard, head of the school district's Substance

Abuse Task Force.

"What's happening here is happening across the country. We fit into that

trend," Mr Weintraub explained.

While past surveys showed an increase in drug and alcohol abuse between eighth

and tenth grades, a recent questionnaire revealed that the abuse is beginning

even earlier.

Both Mr Weintraub and Mrs Blanchard have identified seventh grade as the time

when students become more tuned in to the world of drugs and alcohol. They're

hoping they can stop the problem there before it's too late.

Superintendent of Schools John Reed agreed.

"The end result is tragic," he said, pointing out that only 10 percent of drug

addicts ever recover. "There are some grim realities out there."

In response to the survey, the middle school has come up with a number of

ideas to try and battle the problem, including a D.A.R.E. (Drugs Abuse

Resistance Education) program for seventh graders, which began in September.

There is also a plan for the construction of a fence between the middle school

and the back of the Grand Union.

The D.A.R.E. program has already proven effective at the elementary school

level, where students are taught to "Just Say No." School officials will

implement a 10-session "skill based" DARE program for seventh graders to deal

with peer pressure. As Mrs Blanchard points out, it's more likely that a

friend will offer a child drugs rather than a stranger.

"They learn more about role playing in this program,;" she said.

Newtown Youth Officer Joe Rios will conduct the sessions.

Administrators are also hoping the fence will deter students from "hanging

out" in the wooded area between the school and the Grand Union. The area has

been known to be the site of after-school fights, alleged drug and alcohol

use, incidents of harassment, and other inappropriate activities.

Mrs Blanchard said the fence, though it could easily be scaled, will be a

visual sign to help discourage kids from going there.

"We can't police the rest of the town, but we can police there," Mr Weintraub

said.

The Grand Union has agreed to pay for part of the fence.

To further tackle the issue, the middle school will bring in more health

teachers, continue staff awareness training, hold a "Prevention Week" in

March, continue surveys of middle school students and form student focus

groups in order to gather further information.

"We see things as adults and we need to see these things as kids," Mrs

Blanchard said.

Dr Reed said he hoped parents of former Newtown students who saw the end

result of drug or alcohol abuse would be willing to talk with current students

about the perils.