PEERS OFFER GUIDANCE

GULFPORT - Students who are turned off by adults' warnings about
substance abuse may be more likely to listen to warnings from their
peers.

This concept provides the strategy for TiP, a youth-driven prevention
program that the Drug Enforcement Administration has launched in three
states. If the Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport has its way, the nonprofit
service organization will become the first in Mississippi to help
start a TiP chapter.

TiP, or Teens in Prevention, is a community-supported network of
school-based organizations that provides DEA training for teens and
turns them loose to influence classmates and younger students.

"We would love to be on the cutting edge of getting this program here
and letting the teenagers take it and run with it," said Terri Brown,
auxiliary committee chair.

TiP is new and is slowly being introduced around the nation. About 70
chapters with some 5,000 participants are share drug-free,
violence-free messages in Texas, New Mexico and Illinois.

TiP works on the guiding principle that people will support what they
help create and that no one system, agency or organization can prevent
drug use and violence in isolation, DEA officials said. It also is
designed to use teamwork and problem-solving in support of existing
programs.

Junior Auxiliary introduced the program in Gulfport at a meeting in
September. The next step is finding volunteers for a steering
committee and getting at least three schools to make a commitment and
provide a sponsor.

"For the last two or three years, our Real Issues committee has been
discussing ways we could support drug prevention efforts," said Leslie
Vaughn.

"We became concerned about news reports of drug overdoses and
accidents involving drunk driving," said Vaughn. "We've seen through
efforts in Long Beach and through Red Ribbon Week projects that we can
help make a difference. We believe the foundation already exists for
TiP to work in partnership with others."

The auxiliary provides charitable services, particularly for children,
in Gulfport, Long Beach, Pass Christian and west Harrison County. Some
of its projects include a close working association with school
counselors, nurses and principals.

"We're probably looking at identifying current ninth-graders through
11th-graders to receive the training so they can launch programs next
school year," Vaughn said.

The auxiliary last year served more than 11,000 children, said Nicole
Boisdore Kendrick. The services include emergency clothing and
health-care assistance, mentoring, assisting at the Harrison County
Youth Court shelter and providing artistic and cultural programs in
schools.