LAKE WORTH SCHOOLS: WEEKLONG COURSE TEACHES CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE

Gary Crain, who runs a drug counseling and education program in Fort Worth,
will never forget the high school girl who became a heroin addict after two
weeks of constant drug use.

"She didn't even know how to inject the heroin into her veins; her friends
did that for her," Crain said.

He told the story to Lake Worth High School students who spent last week
learning about the dangers and consequences of drug use and possession.
Crain, who runs North Texas Addiction Counseling and Education in south
Fort Worth, is conducting special classes to teach students about the
physical and psychological effects of drugs and alcohol and the
consequences of possessing them.

Lake Worth school officials began offering the Minors in Possession classes
last fall at N.A. Howry Middle School. Last week, freshmen and sophomores
took the one-week course. Juniors and seniors are taking the class this
week.

New laws took effect in September that impose strict penalties against
mionors caught with alcohol or drugs. For example, the state can revoke the
drivers' licenses of teens caught with drugs or alcohol.Lake Worth
officials want to give students a dose of prevention in hopes they will
think twice before drinking a beer or sniffing cocaine. "I think this is a
good thing to do," sophomore Natasha Rogers, 17, said of the special class.

"I didn't know about drugs [and what they can do] except for marijuana,"
she said.

The program gives students information on different types of mind-altering
drugs, including alcohol; on making wise choices; and on the key laws about
alcohol and drugs.

Crain also discussed having strong values to help students make informed,
wise choices.

But students said peer pressure makes it hard to say no at times.

"Kids think they are invincible, they are bullet-proof," Crain said.

Superintendent Klaus Driessen said Crain's program will help students make
informed choices.

"We're not teaching our kids enough about the consequences of what can
happen to them," Driessen said.

Bobby Salas, a freshman, takes the warnings seriously.

Salas, who does not drink, said he is haunted by thoughts of an aunt who
was killed by a drunken driver while she was walking home from a
coin-operated laundry.

"I never knew her; she died before I was born, but my cousins don't have a
mom," he said.

Vice Principal Terry McLelland said several students came to her office
recently asking for counseling in dealing with drug addiction. Meanwhile,
Crain said it is important to get the word out to young people and their
parents.

"It's not going to save them all," Crain said of the program. "But it will
help save some."

) 1998 Star-Telegram