DRUGS CAN HIT ANYONE AT ANYTIME

Don't think it can't happen to your child - it can happen to anyone.

As 16-year-old Zack shared his story as a drug dealer, he tried to get the
message across at the Adolescent Drug Intervention Summit on Tuesday in
Rainsville that drugs aren't just a problem that affect a select few -
anyone call fall into the trap.

Zack, along his mother, Tammy, and an undercover agent named Andy, took
turns sharing Zack's encounter with drugs and how his problem affected
their lives.

The Director of Bradford Health Services, Cheryl Harris, introduced Zack,
Andy, and Tammy and said because of confidentiality reasons Zack's last
name, the school and county in which he lives, along with Andy's own
information, would not be mentioned.

Around 50 people, including school superintendents, public health
officials, educators, coaches, sheriff deputies, principals and ministers
throughout DeKalb County, attended in the auditorium at Sand Mountain
Electric Coop.

Zack's and Andy's speech was one of many presentations during the summit.
According to DeKalb County Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
coordinator Donna Taheri, the program was sponsored by Bradford Health
Services, DeKalb County's Safe & Drug-Free Schools, and DeKalb County's
district attorney's office.

It was designed to provide multi-presentations of the dangers of drugs,
parent intervention, treatment potentials and methodology for parents and
children to avoid being snared by dangerous and life-threatening situations.

Zack told how he started selling drugs when he was in the seventh grade. He
had dealt with a bone disease, had not been able to play sports and found
himself depressed and wanting some way to fit in with his friends.

He started selling his own pills before it escalated to stealing medicine
from his parents and sneaking out in the middle of the night to make deals.
He was making up to $3,000 at a time on a deal.

His grades dropped from average to F's, and his attitude changed from
loving and compassionate to angry and moody.

It wasn't until he attended a youth group meeting that he began to realize
his life was going down hill and he was helping to destroy the lives of others.

"That is when I decided to come clean and tell my mom," Zack said. "I knew
it wasn't going to be an easy road, but I knew I needed help."

His mom, Tammy, said she didn't know how serious the problem was until her
son came clean. She said she had been the kind of mother who was always
around, asking her son where he was going, and was actively involved in his
life.

"I couldn't believe that this had been happening and I didn't see the
signs," Tammy said.

Zack said his parents were loving and devoted, always wanting to know what
was going on his life. But as he became dependent on selling the drugs, he
began learning techniques to trick them.

"Many people think it can't happen to the popular, church-going kids that
come from good homes. But it can," Zack said. "I was all of that and it
happened to me."

He was selling the drugs to people at school and church, clearing anywhere
between $1,000 to $3,000 on a deal.

"It was unbelievable to have that kind of money and power at my age," he
said. "Drugs are everywhere. Don't ever think they aren't because they are."

Undercover agent Andy met Zack when his mom came to him for help. She
worked for his wife, according to Andy, and believed he would be able to
help her in helping her son.

"He is my best friend," Andy said with a smile. "He has came a long way and
I believe his story will help parents and other students see what drugs can
do."

Zack's drug problem led to him losing his best friend, changing schools in
his junior year and a lot of counseling. Most of all, he said, it hurt him
to see all the hurt he had caused his parents.

Andy encouraged anyone in the room that was a parent to never hesitate to
look for the signs.

"You can't be with your child 24-7 a day and there is a chance that your
sweet, loving child can become a victim," he said.