AGENT: DRUGS CAN KILL

He's talking to first graders and high school seniors. He's visiting
private schools in Eufaula, public schools in Union Springs and most
other schools in Barbour and Bullock counties.

The message is the same. Drugs and alcohol kill.

"Who wants to be called a crackhead or methy?" he asks a large group
of Eufaula students Wednesday.

The Barbour County Drug Task Force commander went to three different
schools Wednesday with the same message. In fact, he's spoken to
hundreds of kids this week in honor of Red Ribbon Week. During the
week, youth of all ages are encouraged to abstain from drugs, alcohol
and tobacco.

"We've been doing this all week, and we'll be going the rest of the
week," Hanners said.

While much has been publicized recently about the drug problem in
Barbour County, we're not alone.

"Everywhere in the state of Alabama, and everywhere in the United
States, we have a drug problem," he tells students. "A lot of people
end up dead at an early age."

The end results are heartbreaking. Families are destroyed, as beloved
family members are often arrested and sent to prison for years.
Innocent people are often victimized.

Illegal drug use can lead to other crimes, according Hanners. Thefts
and robberies often occur because drug users have to find money to
purchase the drugs.

"People have to have money to get it," he said. "People rob
stores...they rob homes."

While much has been made about methamphetamines, crack and ecstasy,
Hanners says marijuana is just as big of a concern. Most heavy drug
users begin with marijuana.

He mentioned one local woman who Hanners described as attractive and
bright. She started using marijuana. Now she's on crack.

"Right now she's the biggest crackhead in Eufaula, which is a shame," he said.

Alcohol can also kill, according to Hanners.

"It's a shame kids want to go out and see how drunk they can get," he said.

Sadly, alcohol often leads to wrecks and other lethal incidents.

"The last thing we want to do is get a call...and have to go wake
your mommy and daddy in the middle of the night," Hanners said. "I
had to do it about four years ago with a guy I knew and grew up with."

Hanners not only encourages youth to stay away from illegal
substances. He tells them to encourage their friends and peers to abstain, too.

"If you have any influence at all, tell them what they have to look
forward to," he said. "There's nothing good about waking up and being high."

Eufaula Police Officer Keith Bungay has also taken a drug dog to
several schools, showing how it can trace the scent of drugs.

On average, the police department makes two to three drug-related
arrests per week.

"Two of them are probably kids like you," Bungay said.

Red Ribbon Week, held in schools across America, was started by the
National Family Partnership in 1988. It is held in memory of Enrique
"Kiki" Camarena-a poor youth who later worked his way through
college, joined the Marines and became a police officer. He later
joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and was asked to
investigate a major drug cartel in Mexico.

But 20 years ago, Camarena was leaving his office to meet his wife
for lunch when five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him
into a car. One month later he was found in a shallow grave-tortured
to death. Friends and neighbors wore red badges of satin in his honor
to show they would continue his fight against illegal drugs.