BOARD SET TO VOTE ON DRUG USE SURVEY

The Board of Education will vote next week on whether to administer a
drug use survey to Hillsborough High School students.

"I think we've spent a lot of time and energy researching it, so it
would be a shame to let it go by the wayside now," Policy Committee
Chairman Dave Kanaby said Tuesday.

If the board approves the measure Monday, 1,421 students (61 percent
of the student body) who received parent permission will take the
American Drug and Alcohol Survey to assess substance abuse among students.

The district would have to pay just under $2,000 for the Rocky
Mountain Behavioral Science Institute in Fort Collins, Colo., to
administer the survey and compile results.

"At least we can go forward and gather some information," Hillsborough
High School Principal Doug Poye said.

Mr. Poye said he is particularly worried about heroin use in the area.
This year, more than one student at the high school has been
discovered to be using heroin, though Mr. Poye declined to say exactly
how many.

Heroin represents the most significant narcotic problem in New Jersey
and accounts for more admissions to state treatment centers than
cocaine, marijuana and all other drugs combined, according to the Drug
Enforcement Agency.

"I think this survey will be timely for us. I only wish we could get
all our students to take it so we could get a better reading," Mr.
Poye said.

If approved, the survey would be given to students in January or
February, with results available at the end of February or early
March, according to Mr. Kanaby.

"This will show us if we need to take action, or if we just need to up
our preventative measures," Mr. Kanaby said.