COUNTY DRUG COALITION WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR

After having an educational career at Caldwell Community College for 16
years and been named vice president of human resources in the medical
field, it's not unusual that Dr. John Crosby turned towards fighting drug
use in Cherokee County.

As the new director of the Cherokee County Drug Coalition, he plans to
combat illegal substance abuse on all county levels.

"We can break the cycle of drug use with kids and adults," said Crosby.

Beginning with a county wide school survey, Crosby plans to use this method
as a means of collecting data on substance use from parents, teachers and
students.

Facing the problems on all fronts, Crosby hopes to assess what he refers to
as a "baseline" of drug behaviors.

"We'll use the baseline," said Crosby, "to put intervention into play."

Along with a county drug assessment, Crosby, in alliance with the Cherokee
County School Board, is to integrate the Mendez program into the school
curriculumn in the near future. The proven and progressive program starts
with kindergarten and develops along with children up into high school
preparing them to deal with alcohol and drug problems and pressure.

Often compared to the popular D.A.R.E program, Mendez could be the answer
to early drug prevention in Cherokee County.

"I have seen the effects of drugs on young people," commented Crosby, "I
think this would be something that could make a difference in the community."