TEEN DRUG USE ADDRESSED

Police, Schools, Community Forging Education Plan

Officials from Gilbert schools, police and community groups are coming
together to address drug issues that have left two teenagers dead, two
hospitalized and 29 students suspended.

Gilbert police and school officials met Wednesday to discuss working
together to reach out to other organizations to educate the community about
drugs and prevention.

"It is a major concern to the both of us. We have had a recent occurrence,
and we are looking at it real seriously," Gilbert Lt. Joe Ruet said.

Ruet said Dave Allison, an assistant superintendent with Gilbert schools,
and Sgt. Paula Krueger are planning a May forum to educate parents. No date
has been set for the forum, which will help to educate parents on the signs
of drug use and abuse and teach them how to safeguard prescription medicine
at home.

Ruet said police and community members are contacting other groups,
including churches, GAIN (Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods) and
CAN (Citizens Action Network) to get the message out. Gilbert
Superintendent Brad Barrett met with CAN on Wednesday to discuss how the
district is handling the issue.

"We have probably the best security system, but it can't stop a student
from coming into the school to disperse a pill," Barrett said. "Definitely
the problem exists in this school. The press tries to make it a school
problem."

It's not just a school or police problem: Youths are using drugs on campus,
off campus, before school and after school, Ruet said. And the availability
of drugs seems to come in fads, with Ecstasy being the hot drug about a
year ago and Oxycontin more recently, he said.

Ruet said he had not heard of the use and abuse of Soma, a muscle relaxant,
by youths, but a year ago had seen the use in adults, who would take it
with alcohol.

In early March, 29 Gilbert and Highland High school students were suspended
for using, buying or selling Soma. The students got the drugs while
visiting Rocky Point, Mexico.

One of the students disciplined in the incident said in an interview this
week that drug use on her campus is rampant.

"About 5 percent come to school totally sober," she said. "You would be
amazed at how many people."

The Arizona Republic is withholding the student's name because she is a
juvenile and has not been charged with a crime.

The incident is one of several that occurred in Gilbert in recent months.
Drug overdoses are suspected in the deaths of two students, Jillian Cleary
and Christopher Manciet. Their deaths and investigations have caused some
student users to stay off drugs, but only for a while, the girl said. Much
of the drug use is "secret," and most people don't actually know who is
using drugs, she said. The users cross age, race and economic lines, she added.

A report released by Gilbert schools Wednesday showed that 157 Gilbert
students have been suspended this school year for drug infractions.
Eighty-one students were found to be under the influence or in possession
of illegal drugs, 54 had prescription drugs, and 22 had over-the-counter
medication. One student was expelled for marijuana. School officials say
these numbers are comparable to those of previous years.

The 35,000-student school district is sending letters home to parents from
junior high up and promoting a parent presentation on drugs at 7 p.m. April
26 at Mesquite Junior High.

Ruet said police are not planning to charge any of the students in the Soma
incident because they don't have enough evidence. He said they will be
referred to the police counseling program and offered aid. The counseling
service is free for Gilbert residents.