GROUP, COURT MAY START A DRUG-FREE SCHOOL PROGRAM

Designation Comes With A Commitment From Students, Parents

FAYETTEVILLE -- Project Right Choice may soon team up with
Washington/Madison County Drug Court to find an area high school
willing to be designated as a drug-free school.

But with that designation comes a commitment from students and parents.

The methamphetamine committee discussed Thursday joining the court
officials on the "Communities for Drug Free Schools" project. The
group seemed open to the idea but asked for more information.

The program was created by Circuit Judge Mary Ann Gunn and is meant
to be a prevention program, not punitive, she said. It will be the
only program like it in the country. Gunn has researched the project
and only found one similar in Alabama, which she has used as a model.

The idea came up as Gunn was reading through letters she receives
after visiting schools with the drug court program. She asks the
students to write letters about their thoughts on the program and
they usually write about how they feel about drugs. She said about
50 percent of the students say they have used methamphetamine or
know someone who has used.

"Over 700 people have come through drug court and say they started
using anywhere from age 8 up to 14 or 15. If we could ever stop
that. Prevention is the real key to the methamphetamine problem."

Gunn wants the program to come from students. They have to volunteer
to participate, she said. The parents also have to sign a consent
form. Students and parents who don't sign the forms won't be required.

Gunn said the program would be tough because the goal is to stop
drugs from entering the school and stop use. There will be
punishment for students who are caught with drugs in school. They
will be prosecuted.

Other requirements include random drug testing of all participants
conducted by a licensed and registered laboratory professional;
random locker searches; random vehicle searches and random police
drug dog searches of lockers, vehicles and school property.

If students test positive for drugs, their parents will be notified
and the students will be evaluated by a drug and alcohol addiction
professional and receive treatment. The students who pass the tests
and those who receive treatment and stay off drugs will get some
kind of incentive.

Gunn said the goal is to get the students' help, not send them to jail.

A school hasn't been designated at this point, but Gunn has a one in
mind. Whatever school is chosen, it must be the students' choice and
the school officials and community members must support it, she said.

Gunn said the slogan of the program is "If you're not in, you're
OUT!" The school chosen must have 85 percent of the students and
parents involved for it to be designated as a drug-free school, she said.

Gunn will address Project Right Choice with more information next
month and also ask the Washington County Sheriff's Office to be a
partner in the program.