ALAMANCE DRUG RAIDS COULD BE ANYWHERE

Mount an undercover drug investigation in most Triad high schools like the
one in Alamance County that netted 50 arrests and the result likely would
be the same. The disturbing reality is that drug and alcohol abuse among
teenagers knows no boundaries.

That's little comfort, no doubt, to parents who fear their kids might be
hooked. In fact, such parental concern precipitated the five-month
operation that placed officers posing as students in Alamance high schools.

Based on surveys of parents, Jim Merrill, superintendent of the
Alamance-Burlington schools, conferred with law enforcement officials last
spring. The campus crackdown plan was hatched.

Wednesday morning, the schools were locked down, warrants were served and
dozens of students were led away in handcuffs. Included in the sweep and
drawing national media attention was heavily recruited Eastern Alamance
basketball star [NAME DELETED] , who has signed to play at UNC-Chapel Hill,
and who allegedly sold marijuana to an undercover officer. [NAME DELETED]'s
scholarship offer could be revoked, pending the outcome of his case.
Forty-nine other teenagers, many of whom spent the night in jail under high
bonds, await court hearings.

Most face marijuana charges, but some may have dealt in heroin, cocaine and
prescription drugs. Equally troubling is suspicion of related drug thefts
from pharmacies and doctors' offices. And the high arrest total doesn't
even include occasional users allowed to slip through the dragnet.

There is a ready market in schools for marijuana and the harder stuff.
Statistics bear that out. The Guilford County Substance Abuse Coalition
recently estimated that 240 Guilford County children under age 18 received
treatment for drug or alcohol abuse in 2000. It concluded that the
situation is worse than the survey suggests.

But for those swept up in the Alamance raid there are immediate issues.
College and career plans most likely will be dashed by an arrest record.
All of those caught face long-term suspensions. If they're lucky,
alternative education plans might be an option. Those who have had previous
run-ins with the law face certain expulsion.

How can the sobering and frightening sight of kids being collared in the
classroom be avoided?

An Alamance school board member suggests teens and parents open a dialogue.
Also, communities must provide adequate prevention, counseling and
treatment services.

Some wonder if the elaborate operation in Alamance County was the best use
of limited law enforcement resources. That's debatable.

There's no question, however, that it provides an unsettling wake-up call
for students, parents and entire communities.