INMATES TALK TO STUDENTS ABOUT DRUGS

GREENUP, Ky. -- An anti-drug program launched recently by the Greenup
County sheriff and the prosecutor involves a connection between the jail
cell and the classroom.

"It's hard to fix people once they're broken," said Greenup County Attorney
Mike Wilson said. "(Greenup County Sheriff Keith Cooper) said we need to
reach them before they get to that point. That's why we're going into the
elementary schools."

Wilson and Cooper began their new anti-drug initiative in November at
Worthington Elementary School. Last week they were in Russell-McDowell
Intermediate School dealing with fourth- and fifth-grade students. The plan
is to take it into every elementary school in the county's three school
districts.

"We're overwhelmed by the drug problem in court," Wilson, who is a
prosecutor for Greenup, said.

* The key to success of the program has been Greenup County Detention
Center inmate Tim Kilburn, who talks frankly with students about his life
of drugs and time in jail.

At Russell-McDowell, he told the assembly of fourth- and fifth-graders that
he was once a fun-loving youngster just like them, one who family and
friends enjoyed having around.

But he said that all changed after drugs took over his life. After that, he
said, the same people treated him like a "poisonous snake" had showed up at
their door.

Kilburn, 32, described himself as living proof of what prescription drugs
like Oxycodone, Xanax and Valium can do to anybody.

He insists in coming before the students in his green-and-white striped
jail uniform and wearing handcuffs and shackles on his ankles. He seemed
frank and honest during his 45-minute talk to the students, Wilson said.

"The students get real somber and quiet when he walks into the assembly
wearing cuffs and leg irons. Teachers say they've never seen kids so
intent," Wilson said. "He's very soft spoken. He's sincere. He has a kid in
one of the elementary schools himself."

Kilburn had to pause to compose himself as he told the students about
stealing pain medication that had been prescribed for his dying grandmother.

His addiction was costing him $250 to $300 a day at its peak, he said.

He said his first experience with drugs came at age 14 when he began
smoking marijuana.

He said he had never inflicted physical pain on anyone as a result of his
drug addiction, but he said he will always carry the guilt of having caused
those closest to him so much emotional pain.

Kilburn has been in the county jail for 15 months and has at least a year
yet to serve. He told students of the good-paying jobs he's lost because of
drugs. He said he now makes 65 cents a day working with a jail crew on
highway cleanup.

He said he wants to straighten out his life once he gets out.

"We're trying to help him if he helps us, but he has a load of trouble,"
Wilson said.

Wilson said school administrators have really welcomed the program. "They
want all the help they can get," he said.