CITY SCHOOLS REPORT DRUG BUST DECLINE

There has been a decline in the number of confiscated illegal drugs
in Durham Public schools, according to the Annual Report on School
Crime and Violence for the Public Schools of North Carolina.

During the 2005-2006 school year, there were only 69 reported
instances of possession of controlled substances, down from 102 in
the 2004-2005 school year and 109 in 2003-2004.

"We have been very aggressive in seeking out any kind of illegal
drugs on campus, [which] has started to take effect as a preventative
measure," said John Colclough, principal of Northern High School.

Northern saw a decrease in the amount of drugs confiscated between
the 2004-2005 and the 2005-2006 school years.

According to its website, Durham Public Schools "accepts its shared
role with the community in addressing [substance abuse] by initiating
a prevention and early intervention program and supporting referral
and treatment programs."

Matching students suspected of drug use with counselors has been
effective, Colclough said.

It is a major goal of DPS to make students aware of the hazards of
drug and alcohol abuse, he added.

"I hope we are able to assist them in making the right decision,"
Colclough said.

Jack Gibson, PTA Council President for the county, said he agrees
with the slogan that the best anti-drug is the parent.

"As PTA council president, I know that is a message we need to
recognize," Gibson said. "It's the parents' responsibility to see if
their children are using illegal substances."

A decrease in the number of reported cases of illegal drug possession
may or may not indicate a decline in the actual amount of drug abuse.

"On the topic of a decrease in illegal drugs, I'm pleased to hear the
report, but have a reservation on whether that's a reflection of a
decline in drug usage among our school population," Gibson wrote in an e-mail.

Others agreed that the data can be interpreted multiple ways.

"What you do need to keep in mind is that [the number of] possession
crimes [is a result of] detection measures, how much you are trying,"
said Ken Gattis, senior research and evaluation coordinator at the
Department of Public Instruction, which compiled the report.

Some students who get caught in the possession of drugs were
originally searched for other reasons, so the numbers may also mean
that fewer are getting into trouble and getting their book bags
searched in the first place, Gattis said.

Some are optimistic about the statistics.

"You're going to see better attendance, our participation in class
will go up and the success of our students will definitely be on the
rise in direct correlation with the decrease in drug use," Colclough
said. "I'm hopeful that it's a trend that will continue."