DRUG TASK FORCE SEEKS CONSULTANT

LONG BEACH - The Long Beach Substance Abuse Task Force is considering
hiring a drug consultant to train police and parents on drug-related issues
and talk to students about the dangers of drugs.

Task Force member Pat Pope, head of the narcotics division at the Gulfport
Police Department, proposed to the nearly 20 members of the group who
attended Thursday night's meeting that they hire a former Los Angeles
Police Department narcotics agent.

Pope said he has discussed the idea with Harrison County Sheriff George
Payne, who said he may be able to pay the consultant's fees and travel
costs to South Mississippi. Pope said it would cost about $3,500 to hire
Trinka D. Porrata, who specializes in topics of raves, prescription drug
abuse and drug trends.

"We've got to raise the parent involvement," Pope said. "The government
cannot raise your children. The parents have to do it."

Parental involvement, task force members said, is essential to eradicating
drug use among youths.

Task force chairman Fred Walker said he plans to ask churches and business
to put anti-drug messages on their marquees to raise awareness, especially
during the upcoming Red Ribbon Week.

The task force, which meets about every six weeks, plans to mail
informational letters to parents of students in kindergarten through 12th
grade. The letter references the drug problem in Long Beach and asks
parents to "Wake up" and get involved in their children's lives.

"Kids don't need friends," said Kathleen Hodges, a school worker for the
school district. "They have friends. They need parents."

Task force members agreed that drug education must start with young children.

"I think our focus should be on stopping those (children) who haven't
started," Pope said.