EDUCATIONAL DRUG SEMINAR TO FOCUS ON CHILDREN

In a 2002 survey of public-school freshman and juniors in Columbia, a third
of those surveyed admitted to drinking alcohol at least once in the past 30
days and 15 percent admitted using marijuana.

Not all will get caught and have to face the legal system, but if they do,
Columbia school resource officers and school counselors want to let parents
know what their kids will face.

Tonight at 7 p.m. in the Hickman media center, two officers will present
"Just the Facts, Jack," the first of a series of educational seminars for
parents. The seminars are sponsored by a group called Bridges.

"We'll talk about what parents can expect from the legal system and the
juvenile justice system," said Officer John Warner, the resource officer
from West Junior High, "who they will meet, who they will talk to,
contacting a lawyer. If their child is an adult - a 17-year-old - we'll
talk about how that system is different."

Bridges started at Rock Bridge High School last year after a parent
approached counselor Ann Baker and suggested the school play a bigger role
in letting parents know what resources are available to help them deal with
teen problems. In addition to printing brochures about area resources, the
group began holding monthly meetings for parents, Baker said.

"It allowed parents to talk with other parents," Baker said. "Enough said,
'If you want to give my name out to parents who are going through the same
thing, that's OK.' "

While Hickman also has held seminars for parents, this year counselors at
all three schools decided to make Bridges a district-wide group. Part of
the reason was that budget cuts reduced Baker to half-time and she needed
other counselors to help with some of the organizing. But, she said, it was
also logical to cut down on duplication of efforts.

Bridges is also forming a task force of students who this year will be
drawn from all three high schools. Baker said organizers try to bring
students from different social cliques together, allowing them to stage
fun, drug-free events that would appeal to classmates. Last year a rap
contest at Rock Bridge was so popular it drew entrants from outside the state.

Warner stressed that tonight's presentation is for any parent, whether they
think their children might be involved with drugs or not.