ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM TAKES A DIFFERENT APPROACH WITH AT-RISK KIDS

The "say no to drugs" message is out there, and practically every
student has heard it. So why do kids continue to do drugs?

Faith Ukanwa, 13, of T.H. Rogers School in Houston, said the reason
lies in the style of many anti-drug campaigns. She said the "we talk,
you listen" approach that adults take with kids simply isn't working.

"It's a sad thing," she said of kids using drugs. "They know it's
wrong, but they do it anyway."

Realizing that lecturing on the dangers of illegal substances has a
diluted effect on youngsters, one anti-drug program is taking a
different approach with at-risk kids.

So far, the Drug Education For Youth -- or DEFY -- program has been
highly effective in Houston, said Norma Estimbo Lacy, community
relations specialist of the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"I think they're really listening," Lacy said. "No one has been in
trouble for drugs."

For the past two years, Faith and 30 other Houston youths, ages 9 to
12, have been selected for the DEFY program, which also serves Corpus
Christi, McAllen and Brownsville.

DEFY is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice's Operation Weed
and Seed program. The majority of participants live in the Gulfton
area in southwest Houston, where drug dealing, gangs, violence and
family problems are woven into their daily lives.

"I think all kids are at-risk, but maybe (these kids) have more risk
factors," Lacy said.

Rather than stand behind a podium and preach about drugs, DEFY
officials use a weeklong summer camp, permanent role models and a
yearlong follow-up system to keep kids drug-free.

In addition to learning respect and responsibility, the children also
leave with knowledge of various illegal drugs, the grave consequences
for taking them and alternatives to coping with their problems.

"Ever since I came from DEFY, I volunteer to take the trash out of my
house and clean my room and do the dishes," said Rene Hernandez, 12,
of Long Middle School. "It's a very good program."

Participant Kadiata Diop, 13, of the Kaleidoscope School, said the
program gave her more convincing reasons to avoid drugs. "We already
know it's not good, but (the message) went deeper," she said.

In July, six Houston youngsters were initiated into the DEFY program
by spending a week at Camp Mabry at the Texas National Guard
Headquarters in Austin. The youth became friends with the
plain-clothed National Guard soldiers and police officers, who
stressed the importance of staying drug-free.

Because many participants disliked or distrusted police officers --
because in most cases a family member once had been arrested -- they
weren't told the occupations of their adult role models until the
camp's end, Lacy said. Forming friendships with police officers taught
the children that law enforcement officials are good people, she said.

Camp participants watched videos that showed the trouble young people
can get into because of drugs and violence.

In one video, a girl got caught holding a marijuana cigarette in the
school bathroom when she was trying to fit into a popular group. In
another video, a boy overdosed on drugs -- something that could have
been prevented had his friends told an adult about his drug usage, the
film suggests.

"I think it's more effective when they see kids in their own age
group," Lacy said of the videos.

Hernandez agreed. Admitting to once punching people when got angry, he
said the DEFY camp helped him change his ways.

"I learned to control my anger," he said, explaining that counting to
three and splashing cold water on his face helps when he gets agitated.

Hernandez said a video about a man going to prison because of violent
behavior was his wake-up call. "Man, if I don't change, this is what
could happen to me," he said.

Of course, Lacy said, the camp will not completely shield children
from their precarious lives and neighborhoods. That is why DEFY's
efforts don't end when camp does.

"The neat thing about this program is we follow them for a year," she
said. After camp, the youth meet at least once a month for activities,
such as visiting museums and having picnics.

The children meet with the same officials they befriended in Austin.
The officials act as role models for the youth, Lacy said. Having
adults other than their parents to talk to keeps youngsters on the
right track, she said.

Since the program's inception, no DEFY children have been in trouble
for drugs, she said. Should someone be caught experimenting with
illegal substances, Lacy said the parents would be informed and the
child would be referred to a drug-intervention program.

"You sort of go over and beyond your call of duty, but I feel really
responsible," said Lacy, who picks youngsters up at their doorsteps if
they have no transportation to their monthly meetings. "My heart is
really in it because I see the difference it makes in these kids."