SCHOOL DRUG ARRESTS LEAD TO NEW SUSPECTS

There are illegal drugs in our schools, but they don't originate in
hallways, locker rooms or even chemistry labs.

So it was heartening last week to see that Alamance County law-enforcement
agencies didn't end their investigation of drug dealing by high school
students with February's arrests of 50 teenagers.

Officers have been following the drug trail all along. Their efforts
produced new charges against more than 30 people, some of whom allegedly
had supplied the drugs to the students arrested in February.

The undercover operations in Alamance County high schools, carried out by
youthful-looking officers posing as students, shocked the community. Many
people were surprised by the apparent easy availability of drugs on school
campuses and also by some of the individuals charged. Their numbers
included one of the nation's best high school basketball players and many
other youngsters who never had been in trouble before.

But authorities, fully supported by school officials, launched the
investigation in order to stem a growing problem. Drugs figure into 40
percent or more of crimes reported on high school campuses across the state
and contribute substantially to poor student behavior and academic failure.
Although this enforcement action took place in Alamance County, the lesson
had wider application. Results probably would be no different in any other
North Carolina school system.

One criticism of the Alamance County operation was that it seemed to target
students -- arguably at the lowest level of the drug distribution system --
while letting larger dealers get away. But detectives actually were drawing
information from students about their suppliers. By last week, authorities
were ready to start reeling in the bigger fish.

Most of the students arrested in February already have gone to court and
received suspended sentences. They made mistakes but now have the chance to
straighten out their lives. Without intervention, they could have been
headed for more serious trouble.

Some of the individuals arrested last week may need to be dealt with more
severely. Students who sell drugs to their peers must be put out of
business, but older people who supply drugs to teenagers are a greater menace.

This ambitious undertaking by Alamance County's law-enforcement agencies
showed that drugs in the county's high schools won't be tolerated. More
importantly, authorities signaled that they're willing to trace these drugs
up the line of supply. We hope that effort continues and the individuals
charged last week provide information that will lead to even more arrests.

Drugs don't originate in school, and they shouldn't end up there, either.