News (Media Awareness Project) - US SD: Sioux Falls Drug Program To Be Tried In Rapid City |
Title: | US SD: Sioux Falls Drug Program To Be Tried In Rapid City |
Published On: | 2003-02-02 |
Source: | Argus Leader (SD) |
Fetched On: | 2008-08-28 14:27:46 |
SIOUX FALLS DRUG PROGRAM TO BE TRIED IN RAPID CITY
PIERRE - A school-based prevention program that Sioux Falls officials
say has helped reduce drug use among students is being expanded to
Rapid City and could be offered statewide.
Gib Sudbeck of the South Dakota Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse,
said results from Sioux Falls show a 5 percent drop in alcohol and
drug use since 1999.
"I think we're all very, very happy with the Sioux Falls project,''
Sudbeck said. "Having services in the school means if a kid gets in
trouble, you have a person right on the scene to offer help. What
sense does it make to send the kid home if you can help?''
The school program is a cooperative venture with the state, school
district and community sharing costs. The aim is to have drug and
alcohol prevention and counseling services at every level of school.
The program is one of several drug and alcohol initiatives in the
Sioux Falls system, and it's been effective, said Bill Smith,
instructional services director for the district.
"It's a way to avoid duplicating services, and it pools a lot of
resources and consolidates prevention and other programs,'' Smith said.
Two years ago, the district reported 223 drug or alcohol violations
among high school students, either on campuses or at activities. Last
year, the number was 186.
"When it started, we had about 64 percent of the high school students
who said they used alcohol or drugs at some time during the school
year,'' Smith said. "That number is 45 percent now.''
He said a similar survey at middle schools showed a decline from 28 to
16 percent.
The city's involvement is a key, Smith said. "What it recognizes is
that drug and alcohol use among young people is a community problem
that brings itself to the school,'' he said. "It's a constant battle,
but we think we're seeing progress.''
The program is helping teachers, too, Betty Oldenkamp, secretary of
human services, told a legislative committee.
"It's great support to teachers, who if they have questions, that
chemical dependency counselor us right there,'' she said.
Recent meetings involving state, school and community officials
resulted in a decision to begin a school-based program in Rapid City
also, Sudbeck said.
"We're really looking for similar results in Rapid City,'' he said.
His goal is to have the program in schools across South Dakota.
"We need to have ways to get ahead of this problem,'' he said.
PIERRE - A school-based prevention program that Sioux Falls officials
say has helped reduce drug use among students is being expanded to
Rapid City and could be offered statewide.
Gib Sudbeck of the South Dakota Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse,
said results from Sioux Falls show a 5 percent drop in alcohol and
drug use since 1999.
"I think we're all very, very happy with the Sioux Falls project,''
Sudbeck said. "Having services in the school means if a kid gets in
trouble, you have a person right on the scene to offer help. What
sense does it make to send the kid home if you can help?''
The school program is a cooperative venture with the state, school
district and community sharing costs. The aim is to have drug and
alcohol prevention and counseling services at every level of school.
The program is one of several drug and alcohol initiatives in the
Sioux Falls system, and it's been effective, said Bill Smith,
instructional services director for the district.
"It's a way to avoid duplicating services, and it pools a lot of
resources and consolidates prevention and other programs,'' Smith said.
Two years ago, the district reported 223 drug or alcohol violations
among high school students, either on campuses or at activities. Last
year, the number was 186.
"When it started, we had about 64 percent of the high school students
who said they used alcohol or drugs at some time during the school
year,'' Smith said. "That number is 45 percent now.''
He said a similar survey at middle schools showed a decline from 28 to
16 percent.
The city's involvement is a key, Smith said. "What it recognizes is
that drug and alcohol use among young people is a community problem
that brings itself to the school,'' he said. "It's a constant battle,
but we think we're seeing progress.''
The program is helping teachers, too, Betty Oldenkamp, secretary of
human services, told a legislative committee.
"It's great support to teachers, who if they have questions, that
chemical dependency counselor us right there,'' she said.
Recent meetings involving state, school and community officials
resulted in a decision to begin a school-based program in Rapid City
also, Sudbeck said.
"We're really looking for similar results in Rapid City,'' he said.
His goal is to have the program in schools across South Dakota.
"We need to have ways to get ahead of this problem,'' he said.
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