FAULTY POLL

To the Editor;

According to a recent LCS ( Lisbon Central School ) Poll 70% of LCS
students smoke cigarettes socially. 30% of LCS students are addicted to
nicotine. 80% of LCS students drink alcohol socially. 85% of LCS students
have tried a drug, with marijuana being the most popular. 45% of LCS
students use drugs daily. The Student Assistant Counselor is available
every Wednesday in room 155.

This was posted in the halls of Lisbon Central School on Wednesday 11
October 2000.

A meeting with Seaway Valley Council for Alcohol / Substance Abuse
Prevention revealed the poll was based on verbal questions asked of 15-20
students " what they thought the other students were doing."

Can you judge 100% of the students from answers 2% give? How truthful were
answers? Did one want to look "cool" or "hip" with answers? Did one want to
"get even" with answers? I suggest parent involvement in the new study.

What is the motive for new study? Is there a connection between drug study
and federal funds? More counseling, more tax dollars needed?

We have deputized school faculty members. One's personal judgement can
determine if a laugh in class is ok or disruptive, words on a t-shirt is ok
or not, if a strip search is needed! What's next, ordered to the nurses
office for a urine and / or blood sample?

The Office of National Drug Control Policy spends $1 billion per year on
anti-drug ads. The ads are in all major news papers, magazines, on TV and
radio. Even on channel one in schools. Sometimes at a rate of 4 per
hour! $700 million to $1billion is funded to DARE nationally. All this is
paid for by tax payers. Is ONDCP's anti-drug media campaign ineffective? Is
there no positive outcome associated with receiving the DARE intervention?
Could it be a $2 billion a year failure?

320 copies of Safety first: A Reality-Based Approach to Teens, Drugs, and
Drug Education by Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D. were sent to Lisbon Central
School free, at Mr. Wayne Chesbourgh's request. They were turned over to
the Student Assistant Counselor. Why weren't the books ever passed out to
students and parents?

No, I don't believe kids should use drugs. I believe zero tolerance is a
failure. " Zero-tolerance policies in schools don't work well." Joseph
Califano the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. Thu, 06 Sep
2001.

Larry Seguin
Lisbon, New York