LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKS COMMUNITY'S HELP IN FIGHTING DRUG USE AMONG TEENS

Justin Stoddard's recent death unfortunately shows that Colfax is not
immune to drug tragedies.

The 16-year-old died Sept. 24 after drinking alcohol and taking pills
the night before at a Colfax party.

His friends said he brought methadone pills, a synthetic narcotic, to
the adult-free party.

There's frustration, whether it's law enforcement, local businesses,
school officials, high school students or alumni, talking about youth
and substance abuse.

"Some youth hopefully have learned from Justin's mistake.
Unfortunately, many will forget within a month or so," said Placer
County Deputy Sheriff Mike Johnson, who works the swing shift in Colfax.

Willy Madison, who for his senior project last year at Colfax High
School, made a DVD addressing "taboo" topics like alcohol and drug
use among peers, was surprised with Stoddard's overdose.

"You don't think that will happen in Colfax. It's a small town. It
was a shock," said Madison, currently attending Butte Junior College in Chico.

The community needs to work together, Madison noted, to ensure
another teen doesn't overdose.

"I think if nothing's done, drugs are going to be a problem. Parents
can talk to their kids about doing it, but when it comes down to it,"
Madison said, "when the pipe is handed to you, the parents aren't
there. I think awareness is needed."

Madison estimates that 30 percent of the Colfax High population is
involved in hard drugs.

"The big drugs are weed, crystal meth, cocaine. When I left, cocaine
was getting worse than crystal," Madison said. "Ecstasy was getting
big; kids do dumb things with it like take too much and blow all
their money on it."

Madison's assessment on how many Colfax High students consume alcohol
was much grimmer.

"Ninety-five percent of kids drink and party every other weekend.
Usually they pull off a scam so parents don't know and they just say
they're going to a friend's house," Madison said.

At least 10 percent of the partiers drive after drinking, Madison added.

Deputy sheriffs say drugs are a problem at area schools

Colfax School Resource Officer Mark Weisman, a Placer County deputy
sheriff, however, says that drugs on campus are not as rampant as
statements he hears from residents would indicate.

"Are there drugs here? Yes," Weisman said. "It's the same as at any
other high school. If someone's really looking, they'll find someone
to supply them with it."

Alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes, or the "gateway drugs," present
the biggest concerns, Weisman said.

"Some students or people who start using those drugs move up to the
harder drugs," Weisman explained.

Twenty or less Colfax High students are found with drugs and alcohol
each school year.

"It's hit and miss," Weisman added.

Punishments vary, from school administration placing students on
suspension or expulsion and Weisman arresting teens and placing them
in the juvenile court process.

Deputy Sheriff Johnson believes there's "a lot of meth and cocaine"
in all Placer County high schools.

"When I went through high school," said the 1999 Placer High
graduate, "marijuana and alcohol were the big deal. Now it's the
norm, even for some 12-year-olds."

Johnson doesn't sugarcoat the number of students trying these illegal
substances.

Ninety percent of high-school level students experiment with alcohol,
50 percent experiment with marijuana, and 10 to 15 percent experiment
with cocaine, mushrooms and meth, according to Johnson.

Stating these statistics, though, is frustrating for him.

"I'm discouraged. Kids are using meth, methadone and oxycotin, the
most addictive drugs out there," Johnson said.

Also discouraged is X Mex restaurant owner Mike Garman who says that
widespread drug use among area youth has been around the last 20 years.

Garman says teens who meet near his restaurant and the Colfax Market
off Main Street are called the "corner creatures."

"We see drug deals, people buying the teens cigarettes and booze,"
Garman said. "Last school year, I found a crack pipe outside my restaurant."

He would like these teens to instead be engaged in positive activities.

His cook, Jovana Stancliff, echoes Garman's frustration.

"If you ever wanted something in high school, talk to these kids
outside of X Mex or the Colfax Market," she said.

That's the way it was when Stancliff was at Colfax High, she added,
with one difference.

Today's youth hanging out are younger, including seventh and eighth
graders, and use more serious drugs.

And have "bigger attitudes," Stancliff, 26, stressed.

"When I was in high school, it was weed and ecstasy. I did my fair
share, I wasn't an angel by any means," said Stancliff, a Colfax High
1999 graduate, "but I didn't do hard-core drugs. If someone had shown
me a line of cocaine, I'd have run out the door and been scared. Now,
it's no big deal."

She doesn't think Stoddard's tragic death will impact his friends.

"They're wearing his death like a badge of honor instead of thinking
of it as a warning. It's more like 'our hometown boy died, wow,'"
said an exasperated Stancliff. "These kids are never going to stop."

Several solutions needed to fix the problem

"You have your youth center but it's not 'cool' to go to," Stancliff
said. "There's nowhere to go in Colfax that's cool and positive. We
need a hip hangout in town."

Deputy Sheriff Johnson would also like to see a safe place, such as a
Boys & Girls Club, created just for Colfax teens.

While creating a safe youth venue is easier said than done, Johnson
offers an immediate way to curb some youth substance abuse.

"Parents need to pay attention and talk to their kids. Make sure
prescription drugs are locked and not accessible," Johnson explained.
"If you suspect your kids are using or experimenting, get them tested
or call law enforcement before it's too late."

Deputies are called weekly, Johnson said, to check out prescription
thefts in Placer County homes.

For Weisman, a plausible solution is for residents, especially
parents, and law enforcement to talk to each other.

He gave similar statements to the Record last March about parents
withholding information about risky behavior.

"A lot of the kids know what's going on but they don't tell us. Kids
know the stuff is harmful but they still chose to do it," the school
resource officer said this week.

Similarly, parents tell Weisman there's a drug problem in Colfax yet
they refuse to say who's at risk.

"If they want to help fix the problem, they need to get involved,"
Weisman reasoned. "We law enforcement don't have a crystal ball. We
can't catch them unless we get lucky or people give us information."

To help, Weisman advises community members to call Placer County
Crime Stoppers at (800) 923-8191. Or call Colfax High School at
346-2284. Callers can be anonymous.

Or call the Placer County Sheriff's dispatch at 889-7800 for a deputy
to investigate, Johnson added.