SIMULCAST TO HIGHLIGHT DRUG ISSUE

Most teen-agers wouldn't pass up the opportunity to get their driver's
license for any reason. But Thurston High School student Jamie S.
isn't like most teen-agers.

The 16-year-old gave up a chance to get her license Thursday morning
to address a gathering of law enforcement officials, members of the
media, the Eugene mayor and a congressman about a problem she
continues to fight - drug addiction.

Jamie, who asked that her last name not be used, commanded everyone's
attention as she detailed a drug problem that began with drinking and
smoking pot at age 14. She said she later began using hallucinogenics
such as LSD and mushrooms, finally reaching the point where all she
cared about was drugs.

"I went on like that for a long time," she said. "Nothing mattered. I
would steal from my family. I would steal from anyone just to get messed up."

Jamie's account was part of a news conference highlighting an upcoming
90-minute broadcast "roadblock." Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23, the
local ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox network affiliates will simulcast an
hourlong town hall meeting and a 30-minute documentary on drug abuse.

The collaborative project is a first for the Eugene affiliates.
Showing the documentary, which provides an inside look at a local
family's battle with drug addiction, is an effort to fight drug abuse.

For Jamie, who has stayed clean and sober since October, giving up
drugs came after a three-week wilderness drug-treatment program, help
from nonprofit Looking Glass Youth and Family Services and a tragic
accident that killed her best friend's mom.

The teen is quick to point out that she couldn't do it alone. She
applauded the idea of the documentary as a way to reach kids and their
families, but also emphasized the need for community involvement and
intervention.

"I've seen so much - I don't know why anyone would do this," she said.
"Teen-agers need help because they don't even realize when they have
problems."

Lane County Sheriff Jan Clements said many people, including law
enforcement officials, have been touched by drug abuse. He told of his
own brother, who committed suicide 24 years ago because he felt he
couldn't escape drug addiction.

"I saw firsthand the devastation of my mom, a younger brother, other
family members and certainly friends," Clements said. "It's not just a
community problem. It should be personal. You all are lucky to live in
a community that is willing to fight this battle together."

U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio said the broadcast may get information to the
public but isn't a solution to the problem - and neither is allocating
more money to social programs.

"The key is prevention - intervention," he said. "That comes into
people looking into their lives, their communities and certainly their
families."

DeFazio added that throwing drug users in jail also isn't the
answer.

"The solution is not lock-up," he said. "We need to do something more
long term to affect kids, their families, abusers and the community.
Congress does not feel the pressure from the community to change. Many
people are comfortable with the simplistic approach that isn't working."

Mayor Jim Torrey said it's important for Eugene and Springfield
residents to be aware and involved in the lives of youths.

"There is a river between our two cities, but there is a joint
community concern about our kids," Torrey said.

KEZI News anchor Rick Dancer, who will be a co-host of the town hall
segment of the broadcast, said he is passionate about the topic of
drug abuse because he, too, experimented with marijuana as a middle
school student.

Now, Dancer speaks to seventh- and eighth-graders about his drug
experiences, the dangers of drug use and how he came to realize that
experimenting with drugs is wrong.

"I'm not afraid to get up in front of people and say I made mistakes,"
Dancer said. "I want kids to know you can make bad choices, but you
can still turn yourself around, get back into school and still be
successful."

"DRUG WARS" BROADCAST

What: Simultaneous TV broadcast of 30-minute documentary, "Drug Wars:
One Family's Battle," and a one-hour town hall meeting.

Where: On network affiliates KEZI (Channel 9, cable 10), KVAL (Channel
13, cable 8), KMTR (Channel 16, cable 6) and KLSR (Channel 34, cable
5)

When: 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23