MENTORS WORK TO PREVENT DRUG ABUSE

A program in DeKalb County is working to stop the growing problem of drug
abuse in the county through mentoring and community education.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free DeKalb and Mentor DeKalb have implemented
several programs to make children, parents and community members aware of
the dangers involved with drugs.

Mentor DeKalb provides mentors to youth in need of a positive influence to
help guide their decision making.

Sherrie Hiett, coordinator for Mentor DeKalb, said the program recruits and
trains adults to be mentors for students in all of the DeKalb County and
Fort Payne City schools and trains students in grades 9-12 to be mentors
for children in kindergarten through sixth grade.

"All those who want to become mentors must fill out applications, profiles
and go through background checks before being accepted," said Hiett. "The
students also fill out profiles, and we match the mentor to the student
based on those profiles."

According to Hiett, the mentors serve as "listeners, advocates, role models
and advisors" and provide "friendship and encouragement to their students."

Hiett said many of the mentors come from the Teens for Brighter Futures
group. All members of this organization must sign a pledge to abstain from
drug, alcohol and tobacco use as well as premarital sex. They must also
have recommendations from teachers and people in the community and maintain
a "C" average.

"These kids are really the elite of the school," said Hiett.

In addition to sponsoring the Mentor DeKalb program, the Partnership
reaches out to the community through programs such as Scriptwatch, drug
court graduation packets, radio spots, youth drug screening and a speakers
bureau. Scriptwatch is a joint venture between the DeKalb County Sheriff's
office which was established to provide a simple and timely method for area
pharmacies to report suspicious prescriptions to local law enforcement
agencies.

Hiett said they have also received a great deal of help from the Fort Payne
Wal-Mart in making it more difficult to purchase products used in the
manufacturing of crystal meth.

"We went on a walk-through with Wal-Mart employees to educate them about
crystal meth. They have implemented policies, such as selling Sudafed from
behind the counter, only to help fight the problem of crystal meth," said
Hiett. Ephedrine, commonly found in Sudafed, is used in the manufacturing
of crystal meth.

The Partnership also educates local companies about the importance of drug
testing. According to Hiett, the sock mills in the Fort Payne area are
experiencing problems with crystal meth use.

"Workers take it for energy, so they can work more overtime," said Hiett.
Hiett said the Partnership is working with the companies to educate them on
the signs of drug abuse and how to react to it.

Anyone interested in becoming a mentor should contact Sherri Hiett by phone
at 997-0000, by fax at 845-0777, by e-mail at sherrie@mentordekalb.com or
visit the web site at www.mentordekalb.com.