NEW COUNTY SCHOOLS SURVEY IS FOCUS OF ANTI-DRUG MEETING

Geri Doyle stood up to publicly share for the first time a story about the
time her son, Ashley, surprised her on her 50th birthday.

She wished there were more memories to share.

Doyle's son, 21, and his friend, Josh Gaither, 22, were killed two years
ago by a drunk driver.

Her words on Wednesday provided encouragement to an audience of area
residents and Calhoun County School System educators committed to
preventing violence and drugs among students.

"I don't want you to ever be discouraged in what you're doing," Doyle told
the group.

"What we're trying to do is prevent what happened to her son," Safe and
Drug Free Middle School coordinator June Evans said.

The gathering at Anniston City Meeting Center highlighted the results of a
recent survey of Calhoun County school system middle school students, and
the implementation of new programs aimed at decreasing drug use and violence.

More than one-third of Calhoun County fifth through ninth graders surveyed
reported having been drunk at least once. More than 10 percent reported
trying marijuana at least once.

"Maybe we ought to focus on more of these ubiquitous drugs," said Allen
Smith, director of assessment at Jacksonville State University.

Smith analyzed the survey administered by Evans and fellow Safe and
Drug-Free coordinator, Beth Williams.

The voluntary survey asked students about violence, drug use, and the home
environment.

New regulations require parental consent for students to participate in
such surveys. As a result of the requirement, a minority of students in the
grades surveyed - 36 percent, or 1,400 students - participated.

The survey's findings do not shock educators, but they help to show where
they should focus their anti-drug efforts.

"It will provide a baseline of tobacco, alcohol and drug use; so then we
can see the improvement from programs," Smith said.

To test the level of honesty of the middle-schoolers' responses, some
survey questions were posed to test validity. One, for example, asked if
the student had used Doporal - a drug that does not exist.

About 1 percent of respondents said they had used the drug.

Teachers are in training now for the research-proven programs school
communities have selected, Williams said.

Using a $347,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Williams and
Evans began last year identifying at-risk problems, undergoing training,
and implementing programs for middle-school students.

A primary motivator mentioned by many involved in the prevention programs
is personal loss resulting from drugs or violence.

The Wellborn community has implemented a Peer Making Peace program in
response to the recent drive-by shooting that killed Wellborn High School
student Marcus Pugh.

Weaver High School juniors Justin Fox and Kelsey Angels attended the
meeting as representatives of students who participate in a Teens Against
Tobacco Use, or TATU, program to prevent drug use in younger students.

Both students said alcohol and tobacco use is common among their peers, so
they are working with younger students to prevent such use.

"The earlier they start, then the better chance you have of making a
difference," Fox said.