STOPPING DRUGS IN SCHOOL

I was saddened to learn that the Murrieta Valley Unified School
District has gone to the dogs ---- drug-sniffing dogs that is. Drug
use has become such a problem with our teenagers, the school
district will be bringing in canines for random drug detection in
the schools.

I am in complete support of this measure to keep our kids safe, and
hopefully make drugs less accessible, but what saddens me is that
drugs have become such a problem that this program had to be
implemented in the first place.

When I was in school, as with any school, there were drugs and
people who would sell them to you. Everyone in school knew who these
people were and what they were selling.

However, it is so disappointing that teens today, even with more
information and education about the dangers, still feel the need to
involve themselves with drugs.

Drugs today are far more potent and dangerous than, say, even 10
years ago, and the risk to health, family and friends is great. It
was indicated by the school district that they have had so many
complaints from parents, kids and school officials, the random
inspections are a necessary means.

What has happened? Where, as a community, have we failed? Where, as
parents, have we failed?

In the past, this paper has received many letters to the editor,
especially from teenagers, stating that there is nothing to do in
the Temecula and Murrieta areas. This is one very important fact
that needs to be addressed in alliance with stopping the increased
use in drugs among our teens.

Kids need to have a place to go after school when parents are not
home and there is no supervision. They need a place to feel safe, to
have fun without feeling pressure. Allowing kids to run wild with no
supervision and no place to go is a recipe for disaster, and
apparently that disaster is upon us.

So what can we as a community do to support and align ourselves with
the drug-sniffing dog program? One idea would be to come together as
parents, community and school administrators to listen and
understand that our kids are reaching out for help. That they need a
place to go, to be themselves, listen to music, talk and just be.
Have we as a community, parents and schools created a place like
this? Why not?

The program has been created to detect the presence of drugs,
alcohol and gunpowder-based items. What we need is a program to
prevent the presence of drugs, alcohol and gunpowder-based items.

A community meeting, including a demonstration by the dogs and a
question-and-answer session, will be held for parents at 3 p.m. Feb.
24 in the Murrieta Valley High School library. I encourage all in
our community to attend, to ask questions and to look at ways we can
support this program and possibly, in the future, not have a need
for it at all.