NEW DRUGS MEAN NEW DETERRENCE POLICY

RIDGEFIELD - Heightened awareness of new drugs being used by teenagers has
led to the staff of the town's public schools to take a new approach to
deterrence efforts, according to Superintendent Ralph Wallace.

When three teen-agers became ill after taking the party drug known as GHB,
gamma hydroxy butyrate, on the last day of school in June it alerted the
school community that more should be done.

"GHB is new to us," Wallace said. Until these kids were involved, I didn't
know abut GHB. It'll become part of our drug-abuse and drug and alcohol
program," he said.

But youth center Barn Director Joanne Almeida and Elke Probst, assistant
director, said too much focus on this matter may have an adverse effect.

"Sometimes doing too much just gets the kids aggravated," Probst said.

"Sometimes, when it's (the message against drugs) shoved down their throat
it intrigues them to try it," Ameida said.

The Youth Commission, said member John Katz, diligently works to educate
youth and offer alternative activities throughout the year, and one incident
should not dictate a change in strategy.

"The entire thrust of the Youth Commission, the Barn and the Ridgefield
Youth Service Bureau is to help to provide alternative activities for young
people while at the same time recognize there is no one thing or group of
things that any town or municipality can ever hope to assemble that is going
to deter kids that are hellbent on having a mind-altering experience," Katz
said.

Wallace said he would support a proposal to put a resource police officer in
the schools. The Board of Education turned down the proposal last year but
the issue may be reconsidered.