MANATEE SCHOOLS, SHERIFF TOUT DRUG TEST WEB SITE

MANATEE - When Jan Sumner asked a student who had overdosed on six
prescription anti-anxiety pills what he learned from the near-death
experience, he told her, "Six is too many. I'd be OK with five."

"Teens are definitely taking more chances with drugs than we did back
in the day," said Sumner, the Manatee school district's program
specialist for safe and drug-free schools. "Their rationalization is
really scary. It's like a brush with death is not scary enough to them."

The school district and the Manatee County Sheriff's Office have
responded to stories like that by recommending a Web site -
www.testmyteen.com - where parents can order a free test to screen
their children for drug use. All they have to pay for is the shipping.

The kits detect the most common illegal drugs - cocaine, amphetamine,
marijuana, opiates, methamphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines,
oxycodone, MDMA and propoxyphene.

The district's Safe and Drug Free program also received about 1,000
vouchers for the kits to hand out.

Sumner doesn't look at the drug testing as a "way to catch" students,
but more of a deterrent.

"If they know their parents have a testing kit in their medicine
cabinet, they're going think before they use drugs. It says, 'In case
you're thinking about it, we're prepared,' " Sumner said. "And it's
also an out when it comes to peer pressure. Most parents don't mind
being the bad guy, especially in these sort of situations."

In her position, Sumner has become the expert on current drug trends
among teens. Her information comes straight from the source.

A new game called "trust" has a grip on her attention.

"The kids bring a variety of prescription drugs and place them in a
bowl. Then everyone takes a handful," Sumner said.

With the Safe and Drug Free School program, Sumner has the
opportunity to work with middle and high school students on violence
and drug use issues.

"The reality is that kids will tell you anything," she said. "We just
have to listen. They want us to know."

The school district and the sheriff's office have added on their
respective Web sites links to www. testmyteen.com.

In addition to the testing kits, the Web site offers parents
knowledge about teenage drug and alcohol use, as well as family
issues and dating topics. It also offers a community forum where
parents can discuss these issues.

"We really liked this site because it's a parent awareness site,"
Sumner said. "Our parents really do look for information that can
give them guidance with teens and insight as to what's happening in
the teen world."

The sheriff's office continuously receives drug-related phone calls
from parents, said spokesman Dave Bristow.

"This Web site is just another tool parents can use," Bristow said.
"We get calls from concerned parents all the time asking what they
can do if they think their child's on drugs."

Sumner says it's time the community realizes that drugs have become
part of our society.

"It's not in the closet anymore," Sumner said. "Drug use is a non-
denominational, cross-culture choice for young and old people. It
doesn't discriminate."

Alcohol usage, which Sumner says has become "a given" among teens, is
just an example of the changing times.

"Our community and culture has a raised level of acceptance," Sumner
said. "Marijuana is being accepted more and isn't such a big deal.
What's next - is cocaine going to be OK? It's always bigger, more
potent. They're entering the danger zone."

In addition to prevention workshops, the Safe and Drug Free School
program provides substance abuse and family education programs in
six, one-day-a-week sessions. It serves as an alternative to 10 days
suspension.

"If a student's caught with drugs or alcohol on campus, usually they
receive a 10-day suspension," Sumner said. "But if they take our
program, they're only suspended for five days. The students opt to
enroll almost every time."

Last month, four Manatee High School students were arrested on drug
possession charges during a "mock drill."

Sumner said she believes the students have opted to enroll in the
substance abuse programs.

www.testmyteen.com

www.manateesheriff.com

www.manatee.k12.fl.us/