DRUG AWARENESS MEETING SCHEDULED AT HIGH SCHOOL

Drug Awareness Meeting Scheduled At High School

The hot topics of discussion at a community meeting next week will be
drug addiction and its consequences, both personal and legal.

Law enforcement is teaming up as part of a community policing effort
to bring awareness of drug abuse to those in and around Socorro. The
presentation is Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m., at the Socorro High School
gym.

Socorro Police Chief Lawrence Romero said his motivation for putting
together a drug awareness presentation is to make people aware of the
drug epidemic in the community.

"It's all over. It's not unique to Socorro," he said.

"It's our town and drug addiction is killing our families, kids, our
future," he said.

Romero said he wants to show people what drug abuse "does to a
person, to their mind."

The presentation will encompass all drug abuse and awareness, "but
I'm going to have a huge emphasis on methamphetamines. That seems to
be the drug of choice. It's very destructive," Romero said.

The meth problem is still the number one problem in the state," said
Sate Police Capt. Jesus F. Orozco, who will be giving a presentation
on that drug in particular.

The presentation, which should last about an hour, not including a
question-and-answer session at the end, will include films, a
Power-Point presentation and photographs of what drugs can do to a
person.

Romero said they would also have guest speakers with personal
experience in using drugs.

The chief said some of the images might be graphic.

"The films portray a drug problem the way it is. It may not be suited
for real young kids," he said.

Romero said maybe kids should see the films, so "they can see the
ugly face of drug addiction and the disfigurement it causes."

Romero said he is trying to get people from all areas, including
medical personnel, to come and talk to the community.

Through this presentation, Romero said he hopes people will realize
the full scope of the drug problem and take to heart what they have
learned.

Information will be available at the presentation for drug treatment
and prevention options.

Romero said this is just another step police are taking to
aggressively fight drug abuse and added that they plan to put on
similar presentations for just high school and middle school students.

Orozco said this presentation goes in line with their goals of
becoming more community oriented.

He said that in a couple months, they will hold another, larger and
more in-depth presentation on drug awareness.