DRUG USE BY LOCAL YOUTHS OUTPACES STATE AVERAGE

Students' Drug Of Choice: Alcohol

Maury County students are more likely to use marijuana, alcohol or
tobacco than their peers in other Tennessee counties, according to a
survey conducted recently.

That's why Jonathan Lewis of the Safe Neighborhood Coalition says
reducing underage drinking and drug use is the first step in curbing
gang violence in the community.

"When I saw it (the results) the first time, my jaw hit the floor," he
said. "I had no idea it was that bad here in the county."

Here's what the 2006 Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
survey found.Survey

About three out of 10 Maury County students say they have smoked
marijuana at least once during their academic career. Roughly six out
of 10 have tried alcohol. Forty percent have used tobacco, and 20
percent of students report lighting up within the past 30 days.

Overall, Maury County had a higher percentage of students trying
cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, inhalants and cocaine than the state
average. The county ranked below the state average in terms of
students trying methamphetamines and smokeless tobacco.

Of roughly 12,000 public school children in Maury County, 1,224 in
grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 completed the survey. State averages are based
on a sampling of students in 41 of Tennessee's 95 counties.

Lewis is seeking funding from the state to combat underage drinking
and drug abuse. He said the coalition, which was founded with the
objective of curtailing gang violence, wants to work with law
enforcement, along with school and health officials, to lower
substance abuse rates.

Reducing drug abuse is a good start to combating gangs in Maury
County, Lewis said.

"I think the two go hand-in-hand," he said.

Bill Doelle oversees the Maury County Sheriff Department's drug task
force. Doelle said he's not surprised Maury County students report
higher usage than those in other communities.

"It's the availability of it," he said. "You can get out here any day
and get it on the street corner."

Doelle said he thinks aggressively pursuing drug dealers and carrying
through with stiff penalties is key to keeping drugs away from children.

Sgt. Kirk Shepard, who works as a school resource officer, said the
county tries to combat drug abuse through both education and
enforcement at all public schools. Deputies use drug dogs to randomly
search for illegal substances at middle and high schools and also
conduct lessons on the perils of drug abuse.

Shepard said most students cited for having drugs at school are
carrying cigarettes or marijuana. Students bringing prescription pills
to school has been a growing problem in Maury County and nationwide,
he said.

Abusing pills is particularly troubling, Shepard said, because
students will often take powerful drugs with no knowledge of the
effects. Shepard said deputies have confiscated drugs varying from
blood thinners to prescription anti-diarrhea medication.

The best way to stop teen drug use, he said, is for parents to take an
active role in their children's lives. That includes doing some
things, such as snooping through their belongings, that might make
them angry, Shepard said.

"They may get upset about that, but I would rather them get upset with
me for a little while than to have to attend their funeral," he said.