WHAT DO MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS KNOW ABOUT DRUGS?

Parents, teachers, administrators and teens. You've probably heard the PSAs.

They go something like this:

A clip to a sixth-grader is something that holds papers. By seventh grade,
it's something that holds marijuana. What a difference a year makes.

And ...

A roach to a sixth-grader is a bug. By seventh grade, it's marijuana. What
a difference a year makes.

And ...

A pipe to a sixth-grader is something water runs through. By seventh grade,
it holds marijuana. What a difference a ...

Got the drill?

The sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders of Teen Voices say they've gotten
the drill over and over. And truth is, it isn't an altogether true
timeline. At least not universally so.

"Sixth-graders know about it -- and they pretend to do it," said Marla
Watson, in sixth grade at Blythewood Middle School.

That's despite the fact that "every other commercial you hear is about
drugs," said Marla, 12.

Fellow sixth-grader, Ashley Drayton, a student at E. L. Wright, agrees with
Marla. "You hear about it in sixth, seventh and eighth grade," she said.

Alan Butler, an eighth-grader at Summit Parkway Middle School, remembers
his first year in middle school a little differently. But that was two
years ago -- and just a year can make a difference. Right?

"When I was in sixth grade, drugs weren't that big of a deal," he said. "It
was stressed so much not to do it, that nobody really cared about it.
Nobody wanted to do it.

"In seventh grade, it's more kids acting like they know what it is just to
be cool," said Alan.

"By eighth grade, kids definitely know the difference."

R.J. Catarino is a seventh-grader at E.L. Wright Middle School. He's
noticed a difference since last year in how his peers characterize one another.

"Last year, we didn't even talk about it," said R.J. "This year, every
other word and every other person that we refer to has to do with pothead
or crackhead."

The students said they often find out who's tried what when drug dogs and
other "searches" take place at school, or when peers get caught and kicked
out of school. They also take liberties to sometimes make stereotypical
assumptions based on how students dress, or act.

"Teachers are saying that talking about drugs or sex is inappropriate at
school, but when we walk down the halls we hear it anyway," said Alan. "So
there's no point in them preaching.

"Just talk about what's wrong or right, and that's it."

Exposure doesn't mean they've experienced any of it themselves.

"If hearing about it makes you curious, all you have to do is see a person
who actually takes that particular drug or who drinks," said Alan, 14.
"You'll never want to do it."

Lauren Howard agrees.

"But you don't want to hear it 24-7," said Lauren, a Dent Middle School
eighth-grader.

"What parents should know is that we know right from wrong," she said.

Lori Roberts covers northeast Columbia and issues affecting young people.
Call her at 771-8655 or e-mail lroberts@thestate.com