KINGSPORT SCHOOLS PLAN DRUG EDUCATION FOR PARENTS

Law enforcement officials say it's a fact that some teenagers in the
community are using drugs. But how to recognize the signs of drug use may
be a mystery to parents.

Kingsport City Schools in conjunction with the Counterdrug Operations
Center is hosting an in-service on drug usage in the area Monday.

Teachers, parents and community members are invited to attend the
presentation, which will discuss strategies to recognize usage and signs of
the operation of a methamphetamine lab. The in-service will be held at
Robinson Middle School from 8 a.m. until noon.

Chief Warrant Officer Lou Wilson, a presenter at Monday's event, said the
in-service will discuss signs, smells and symbols of drug use that can be
helpful to parents and teachers in recognizing the problem.

Knowing how to detect a methamphetamine lab is also important, especially
for teachers or school staff who may do home visits for students during the
year."We've got a 20-foot methamphetamine trailer, an education trailer
that we have an actual meth lab that is inactive built inside of it. We are
going to bring that. We are also going to do an all-drug awareness briefing
and what programs we have available," Wilson said.

KCS Administrative Assistant Barbara Moody said the program was offered
last year to some administrators in the system and was so informative it
has been expanded for the entire staff and community this year.

"It will show us how to recognize if kids are involved in using ecstasy or
around meth and the things going on in the area. ... It's also wonderful
for parents and the PTA to recognize symptoms of drug use. We all need to
be aware. Anyone who works with kids needs to be aware," Moody said.

The Counterdrug Operations Center is a division of the Tennessee National
Guard's Southeast Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force.