EDUCATING EDUCATORS

Sheriff's Investigator Tells School Officials The Woes Of Meth

NASHWAUK -- Drugs and drug paraphernalia were spread across a table in the
Nashwauk-Keewatin High School Monday as a group of educators carefully
examined the items.

The items were being used as a learning tool as part of a workshop focusing
on methamphetamines as well as other drugs.

The workshop was presented to the faculty of the Nashwauk-Keewatin School
District, who were busy preparing for the arrival of students with school
starting Thursday of this week.

Itasca County Sheriff's Department Investigator Supervisor Dean Scherf
armed the educators with a variety of information about meth and other drugs.

"It is so they know that, one it is a problem, and two, ways to identify
it," he said about the hourlong session that highlighted the dangers of meth.

He said the workshop created awareness for district employees, so they are
able to combat the problem if it does arise during the school year.

"It's a real problem pretty much nationwide," Scherf told the faculty, who
gathered to learn more about the highly addictive and dangerous stimulant.
"It's pretty much the drug of choice."

Scherf said in the past 10 years he has seen a change in drug use. It was
primarily marijuana use in 1993 and that has shifted to meth, with users
and dealers as young as 16 years old.

"It has changed a lot over the last 10 years," he said, noting that meth is
snorted, injected or smoked. "Once they start using they get such a high
it's hard for them to quit taking it."

Carol Huffman, who works in the janitorial department in the school
district, was busy taking notes while Scherf relayed the valuable information.

"More members of the community should be involved with the issue that can
affect kids," she said after the presentation. "The more informed you are
the more help you can be. It needs to be addressed in schools."

Scherf said meth users tend to be hyper, edgy, paranoid, and their personal
hygiene tends to decrease. He said grades may tend to drop and students
tend to change their peer groups.

In the majority of cases he has dealt with over the years, the user started
by trying it one time at a party and it ended up taking over his or her
life -- with the user ending up losing everything.

"'I lost everything. Now I have nothing,' I have heard that time and time
again," he said.

Meth is an expensive drug that is sold for about $200 per gram, which for a
mediocre user could last three days. For this reason, it isn't as
wide-spread at the high school level, said Scherf. Instead, he said
students turn to prescription drugs.

High School Principal Bob Bestul said the presentation was a good
opportunity for the faculty to become more aware of the impact of drugs. He
said it provided insight to educators what to be on the look out for during
the school year.

Charlie Campbell, who is a teacher at the high school, said he was relieved
to know that meth use among high school students isn't as prevalent.
Although, he said he realizes that school age exposure is still a huge concern.

He said the workshop is a step to help recognize and prevent drug use at
both the elementary and high school levels.

"I think Mr. Bestul as a new principal is setting the tone right away that
it is not going to be tolerated in the school," he said. "I hope the
message is sent that it is not OK in school -- that this is not the place
for it."

After having an opportunity to listen and learn about meth and drugs, the
district employees walked away with knowledge they could use to provide a
better environment for students.

"I think it is good for people to know what symptoms are of someone who is
using and to be able to identify the risks to student and their families,"
said Amy Campbell, health and physical education teacher in the district.

Campbell said the information, including an overview that was given on laws
about locker searches and drug possession, provided at the presentation was
very helpful.

"I think it is good to have general knowledge of how prevalent it may be in
the community and schools," she said.