DEA SEEKS TO START TEEN PREVENTION ARM IN COLORADO

Jan. 16, 2001 - LONGMONT - The prevention arm of the nation's top
drug-fighting agency is ready to help curb drug and alcohol use among kids
in the St. Vrain Valley School District.

The Drug Enforcement Administration wants to add the district to its Teens
in Prevention network. It would be first chapter in Colorado, officials say.

DEA Special Agent David Monnette will talk to parents this week about
joining TiP, said Mayor Leona Stoecker. "He's very anxious to start a
chapter in Colorado and he thinks Longmont would be the per fect first
step," she said.

Monnette couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

The DEA uses 22 field divisions to enforce the nation's drug laws. The
agency also began bringing an anti-drug message into communities in 1986 as
part "of a comprehensive attack against the drug problem in the United
States," according to the DEA Web site.

TiP involves training a core group of teen leaders to start prevention
programs and activities in their communities. The DEA helped host three
regional seminars for community leaders from 40 cities in 1999 to map out
drug- and crime prevention strategies, according to the agency.

Boulder County Sheriff George Epp said he was disappointed that the DEA
hadn't contacted his office about its plans for a TiP program in Longmont.

"I have reservations about federal agencies coming into local schools
without checking with law enforcement agencies," said Epp, who cited
potential conflicts between programs operating in the schools.

Monnette, who is based in El Paso, will be in Longmont as part of a
communitywide discussion of drugs and alcohol among youth. The first public
meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the auditorium of Longmont High
School, 1040 Sunset St.

Tom Farrell, superintendent of the Aspen School District, will speak at the
Wednesday meeting. Farrell has spoken nationally about the use of drugs and
alcohol in cities and towns in America, said school district spokeswoman
Nancy Herbert.

Monnette is scheduled to speak at 6 p.m. Thursday night, also at Longmont
High School. Monnette's office in El Paso oversees the TiP network, Herbert
said.

Many school districts rely on Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)
classes to fight drug abuse among elementary students. But both Boulder
Valley and St. Vrain Valley school districts have dropped DARE classes,
citing concerns about its effectiveness.

Boulder Valley and St. Vrain now have their own drug-awareness classes with
the help of Boulder County and local police departments, Epp said.

The recent suicide of the son of a former city councilman and the
suspension of some local athletes for underage drinking led many to think a
fresh look at teen substance abuse was needed, Stoecker said.

"We were concerned about our kids in this community," Stoecker said.