FIRST-HAND WARNINGS

Not even the most committed counselor could impress the dangers of drug or
alcohol abuse on young people as well as those who have lived through it.

Davidson County has an excellent drug court that emphasizes treatment and
recognizes that the best way to fight drug- and alcohol-related crime is to
get to the heart of the problem, not just react to the crime. But no judge
can connect with a young person the way someone who has been down that
difficult road can.

Several Metro schools are hearing testimonials from graduates of the
Davidson County Drug Court program. Students ages 12-14 are especially
prone to making poor decisions about drugs and alcohol.

The drug court grads, as part of a community service, are reaching out and
informing those students about the risks of those decisions. Students are
learning that what may seem like minor decisions can lead to long-term
problems that could affect the rest of their lives.

The message of the Drug Court program is simple. It's to avoid even getting
involved in drugs and alcohol. Getting off such substances can be extremely
difficult, so the best decisions are to avoid them from the start. But as
well-versed as someone like Judge Seth Norman, who founded the drug court,
may be on the facts and the value of the program, it's the people who have
had recent, first-hand experience who are best suited to convey the message.

Students in audiences who hear personal accounts should recognize how
courageous it is for those who have battled drugs and alcohol - and gotten
into trouble for it - to talk about their experience. Those experiences can
be painful to relive, but the frank discussions can literally affect the
lives of young people in those audiences. The community should be grateful
for the work of the drug court. It should be especially grateful to those
who have survived their ordeals and share what they have learned.