D-FY-IT DRUG PROGRAM NEARS 1,000 ENROLLED FROM CISD

Keeping kids drug-free is a team effort for the Corsicana community with a
program called Drug Free Youth in Texas (D-FY-IT).

"This program basically gives students rewards to stay drug-free," Officer
Tim Brooks said.

Brooks has been an advisor to the program here for seven years. In that
time, he has seen the enrollment numbers jump from 30 to more than 100.
Currently, there are 980 Corsicana students involved with the program, but
Brooks would like to see more students get involved.

"This year we had about 60 kids join out of the 400 seventh graders,"
Brooks said. "I'd like to get to the point where everyone is involved."

The Corsicana Police Department, Medical Arts Clinic, Navarro Regional
Hospital, Corsicana ISD and several local businesses have all come together
to reward students who are and remain drug-free. Together, these
organizations encourage students to join Drug Free Youth in Texas, or D-FY-IT.

D-FY-IT is a voluntary, community-based program created to curb use among
teenagers using rewards, not punishment. Students may enter the program in
seventh grade, with permission from their parents and a one-time $8 fee.
When they join, they are tested for five different drugs -- amphetamine,
cocaine, cannabinoid (marijuana), opiates and phencyclidine (PCP).

"If they test drug-free, they're issued a card with the name of the
program, their name and their photo on it," Brooks said. "They can then
take this card to local businesses and get discounts and free items."

Some of those local merchant participants are Green's Western Wear, JC
Penney, Taco Shop, Whataburger, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box and Sonic
Drive-In. They offer everything from 10 percent discounts to a free food item.

From seventh grade through senior year, the students are randomly tested
until they graduate from high school and the program.

If they remain drug-free, they get to be included in various events such as
pizza parties and trips to a Ranger game or the Mesquite Rodeo.

Those found with drugs in their system are not punished, but the rewards of
the program are taken away.

"If they test positive for one of the drugs, we don't arrest them," Brooks
said. "Instead, we offer them counseling so they can come back drug-free.
If they are tested and found to be drug-free, they're re-admitted to the
program."

Medical Arts donates its services, free of charge, as they transport the
urine specimens from the school to Navarro Regional Hospital. At NRH, each
sample is tested for $8, which is the fee the students already paid. This,
too, is a donation of service since such tests often cost between $200 and
$300.

"CISD helps a lot, too," Brooks said. "They give us a lot of leeway when we
go in to test the students."

Brooks is thankful for the support from CISD, Medical Arts, NRH and the
local merchants.

"This program really couldn't make it without their help," Brooks said.