PARENTS CAN GET FACTS ON DRUG USE

Program Tonight At School Will Offer Time For Questions, And Paraphernalia
Display.

A team of parents, administrators and law enforcement officials hopes a
five-member panel tonight will teach other parents what they need to know
about drugs.

The premise is that smarter parents will lead to students who are free of
alcohol and drugs.

"If we can get more parents educated as to what they should be looking for,
maybe it will help," said Fishers Police Lt. Mike Johnson.

Johnson, a nine-year Drug and Resistance Education (DARE) instructor for
Hamilton Southeastern Schools, will participate in tonight's panel, hosted
by Parents in Partnership, a collaboration of junior high and high school
parents.

Other panelists are Greg Habegger, dean of students at Hamilton
Southeastern High School; Hamilton County Deputy Prosecutor Robin
Hodapp-Gillman; Hamilton Southeastern senior Jake Teitgen; and Scott
Thomas, a substance abuse counselor.

Johnson will display drugs and paraphernalia seized from local teens during
recent months and talk about marijuana -- always prevalent, he says -- and
"skittling," abuse of an over-the-counter cold medicine that resembles candy.

"If parents see these things and then see them again at home or in the car,
they'll be more likely to recognize the problem," he said.

Habegger will address school performance problems caused by drug and
alcohol use, including poor attendance and difficulty making up missed work.

"We're not so naive as to think there isn't a drug problem, but we'll talk

about the parent role in student lives and how they can prevent these
things from happening," he said.

Parents in Partnership publishes an annual directory of junior high and
high school families that sign drug-free pledges in the fall. More than
1,200 families are included.

The pledges serve as a communication network among parents who promise,
among other things, not to host parties with drugs or alcohol and to be
present during parties at their homes.

"They agree to provide a safe, healthy environment for kids," said

co-chairwoman Lisa Wissman, mother of Hamilton Southeastern students in
Grades 3, 6 and 9.

Each panel member will speak for about 15 minutes, followed by a 30-minute
question-answer period.

"We wanted to offer more than a directory, to show parents the reality of
what's happening," Wissman said.

If you go . . .

What: Parent Awareness Night.

When: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. tonight.

Where: Hamilton Southeastern High School Little Theatre, Fishers. Enter
through door No. 2, north of the Olio Road main entrance.

Who: For adults only.

Contact: Nancy Duggins, (317) 845-7494, Beth Kiel (317) 842-7062, RaShell
Sink (317) 578-4401, Lisa Wissman (317) 842-7967. If you go . . .