FALLOUT, REACTION CONTINUES FROM BROOKFIELD HIGH MARIJUANA ARRESTS

BROOKFIELD - Students at Brookfield High School said it was "a day
like any other" earlier this month when two sophomores from the
school were arrested for conspiring to sell marijuana on school property.

The two boys, under 16, were arrested on Jan. 9 and suspended from
school. Three other boys under 16 who police said possessed marijuana
in the high school were also suspended. The boys were not identified
because of their ages.

One of the arrested boys has been expelled for a full calendar year
as mandated by state law. The second boy's expulsion hearing before
the town's Board of Education is coming up, Superintendent Anthony
Bivona said.

Students took the news of the arrests in stride, but say school
officials are cracking down.

"I'm sure there were a few people who were upset about the
suspensions and expulsions but overall, people were not really
affected," said senior Jessica Betts. "They're stricter at the school
now. If they even have a sense that you're using marijuana, you're
gone. There used to be more warnings. I've seen changes since I was
a freshman."

Anthony Comunale, a Southbury psychologist who deals with adolescent
and youth substance abuse, said it is "a serious issue in that
marijuana use is illegal."

"Marijuana is not a benign drug," Comunale said. "It has psychoactive
effects that goes into the brain and changes reality. Some kids try
it and get no effect. Some kids are a lot more susceptible and go on
to other drugs."

Comunale said youths using marijuana may be self-medicating something
like an anxiety disorder that needs to be treated professionally. "I
don't think there's anyone I've treated for cocaine or heroin who
didn't start with marijuana," Comunale said.