TRACES OF DRUGS FOUND IN ALL 20 RAPIDES SCHOOLS TESTED

Codeine The Most Common Drug, But Heroin Also Discovered

The drugs most frequently found in Rapides Parish schools are legal and can
be prescribed by a doctor, but heroin and marijuana have also been discovered.

Detailed tests taken by a private company reveal the most popular drugs in
parish schools are the painkiller codeine and ephedrine, an
over-the-counter stimulant available at convenience stores and gas stations.

Harder drugs like heroin and methamphetamines, commonly called "speed,"
were found in some schools, although much less frequently.

"Rapides Parish is a little below average with fewer drugs than most school
districts its size," said Andy Anderson, founder of Trace Detection Services.

Trace Detection Services recently released the report after "swabbing" 20
non-elementary schools in search of drug residue. Using special technology,
Trace Detection scanned surfaces in various areas of all middle and high
schools, including water fountains, lockers, desks and teacher lounges. The
system does not test individuals.

None of the 20 schools tested was completely drug-free, said Barbara Odom,
coordinator for safe and drug-free schools.

Trace Detection scanned schools in the fall and told principals which drugs
were found in the school and exactly where. Principals could then
investigate or increase supervision in problem areas around the school, but
they were encouraged not to accuse or target individuals based on the test
results.

Trace Detection gave a follow-up report in each school, often revealing
fewer drug traces over time. From fall to spring, traces of codeine,
ephedrine and amphetamines were fewer.

However, more marijuana and the club drug Ecstasy turned up in the spring.
Also, PCP and methamphetamines showed up in the schools in the spring when
they were absent in the fall.

Rapides Parish School Superintendent Patsy Jenkins would not say which
schools were found to have traces of heroin and methamphetamines, even
though District Attorney James "Jam" Downs said the information should be
released to the public.

Odom said there were no trends that she could see. Rural schools had the
same amount of drugs as urban schools, and middle schools were even with
high schools.

"I thought junior highs might be a little worse than the high school
because those younger kids want to fit in," Odom said. "But there were not
any differences."

Roy Rachal, district risk-management coordinator, is skeptical about some
of the findings.

"You would find that in any public facility," he said.

"This thing could get blown out of proportion because of the wide variety
of ways these drugs could be introduced to the schools. There could be a
parent coming in that touched something, or it could even be left over from
a construction worker who originally built the school.

"You don't know if that stuff has been there for three months or 30 years."

Rachal warned principals to beware of liability. If a student's locker
tests positive for drug traces, there are no grounds for punishment or
accusation, he said.

"It doesn't prove anything. You can't legally finger anyone," Rachal said.
"You can, however, increase surveillance in certain areas where the drug
traces were found."

Anderson, whose company's services stretch to Grant Parish, Dallas
Independent School District and more, agreed with Rachal.

"We are not in the business of getting anyone arrested," Anderson said. "We
are just here to give principals some intelligence so they can hopefully
help somebody."

The $30,000 drug tests were funded through a private anonymous donor and
will continue next year with money from the Safe and Drug-Free school's
program.

Some information withheld from public

Jenkins has refused to release information showing which schools housed the
harder drugs like heroin and methamphetamines.

She only released the "main" drugs found at each school after The Town Talk
made Freedom of Information requests for specified lists of which drugs
were found at each school.

District Attorney James "Jam" Downs said Jenkins should release the
school-by-school detailed drug information. He said it is legally public
information since the report does not include potentially incriminating
evidence about specific individuals.

Jenkins said she did not want to give away information that may help lead
law enforcement to criminal investigations and drug dealer arrests. She
said if drug dealers know they are being watched in certain places, they
"may head somewhere else."

School Board President E.L. Paulk said he understands that the
superintendent doesn't want to cause "mass hysteria" over which schools
housed the harder drugs, but said he is unsure of the legal ramifications.

School Board member John Sams said, "The information ought to flow. I don't
think we are hurt by information. We are hurt by not enough information."

Drugs commonly found in schools

Three of the most common drugs found in Rapides Parish schools this past
school year are codeine, ephedrine and amphetamines.

Codeine is a painkiller often found in cough syrup. Some principals were
skeptical that codeine is being widely misused in schools, especially with
the respiratory flu epidemic that nearly incapacitated district schools for
a few weeks in January and February. However, most of the codeine was found
in the schools in the fall semester.

Andy Anderson of Trace Detection Services noted that students are known to
sell codeine in school because it is so easily obtained at home.

Barbara Odom with Rapides Safe and Drug-Free Schools said principals
discovered some students pouring cough syrup into cups from fast-food
restaurants and bringing it into school illegally. All medication taken
during school must be brought to the office first, she said.

Ephedrine is a stimulant drug that can be bought over the counter in the
form of "yellow jackets," or dietary supplements. The drug is considered
dangerous because it increases blood pressure and heart rates to a point
that can cause death in an overdose. Athletes often use ephedrine to
enhance their performance, and it is not allowed in schools. All the 44
"hits" of ephedrine were found in Rapides Parish schools in the fall,
during football season.

Amphetamines are found in many juvenile medications like Ritalin, which is
used to treat attention-deficit disorder.

"You should always find traces of this in schools," Anderson said. However,
he said many kids don't take the prescribed medication when they realize
they can sell it for $15 to $20 per pill.