'I THINK IT'S A LOT WORSE THAN WE REALIZE'

GULFPORT - Drug use among students in South Mississippi isn't a new problem,
but school officials say the solutions must change as students do.

Zero-tolerance policies, police officers in schools and drug-sniffing dogs
are a few of the ways superintendents and principals are trying to combat
the problem.

"I think it's a lot worse than we realize," said Lester Denley, principal at
Gulfport High School. "It's gotten to be almost commonplace."

Some students believe school administrators bury their heads in the sand
about students using drugs, but state and local education officials
disagree.

There is a state law that requires mandatory expulsion of all students
caught with illegal substances on school property, said Robert Laird,
director of school safety for the state Department of Education.

The expulsion lasts for one calendar year from the date the student is
caught with drugs, he explained, but added that superintendents have the
discretion to send students to the alternative school instead.

Many school districts in South Mississippi have found students at school
with drugs. For example, during the 2002-2003 school year, six students were
found with drugs in the Biloxi School District; 20 in Gulfport schools and
15 in Harrison County schools.

School districts have different methods of detecting drugs.

At Gulfport High, there are two police officers who work at the school every
day. They also have Mikey, a German Shepherd trained to sniff out tobacco
and other drugs.

Mikey checks out classrooms, the gym and the parking lot several times each
week.

"I certainly don't let it go because I detest drug usage," Denley said. "If
a student is caught with drugs or using drugs at school, they're sent to the
alternative school for nine weeks. We try our best to catch it."

The Biloxi School District has three officers assigned to the district that
rotate among the schools as needed, and the School Board is considering
implementing a random drug-testing policy for students involved in
extracurricular activities, Superintendent Larry Drawdy said.

The district does have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to students
using drugs on school property.

"If you're caught with drugs at school or dispensing or selling drugs at
school, they get a hearing, and they get expelled," Drawdy said.

He added that students can help curb the drug problem as much as school
officials.

"A lot of times kids are the ones who report other kids who are using
drugs," Drawdy said.

Harrison County Sheriff George Payne said parents also need to do their part
to control the drug problem and not just rely on educators and law
enforcement.

"The drug problem progressively gets worse because of the laissez-faire
attitude of parents," Payne said. "The answer is parental involvement. When
you have parents involved, you have less drug use and less problems
overall."

He added that as young people get older and change the type of drugs they
use, schools, parents and communities have to always look for new solutions.

"We have to continue doing what we're doing but change our approaches and
strategies as students change," Payne said.

School officials said they would rather prevent the problem than punish
students, and many believe one way to achieve that is through random drug
testing. Some districts in South Mississippi have implemented drug-testing
policies for students participating in extracurricular activities, such as
sports and clubs, including Long Beach, Gulfport and Poplarville.

In many districts, punishment for positive tests includes the student
dropping out of the activity for a certain period of time. If a student
fails the drug test several times, he or she could be barred from
extracurricular activities permanently.

Educators believe if a student enjoys a certain activity, the threat of a
drug test is enough to make them not use drugs.

"It gives them a way out," said Long Beach Superintendent Carrolyn Hamilton.
"They have a reason to say no if someone pressures them."

Denley wants to see more school-sponsored activities that would appeal to
all students.

"It's very important to them to belong," he said. "They're going to be a
part of something. You can provide it or they'll find it."