WLOX SHOW WILL TACKLE DRUG USE AMONG TEENS

Are there ways to deal with life's problems without resorting to drugs? Do
teens truly want parents to question what they're doing? How do teen-agers
really feel about drug tests?

Tune into "Viewpoint Youth: Illegal Drugs" tonight on WLOX-TV 13 to find
some answers and gain insight into how drugs are affecting teens and the
community.

WLOX reporter/anchor and host Amanda Jones will join teen co-hosts Alex
Minton and Alan Pate, the WLOX Explorer team and teens from across South
Mississippi to examine the issue.

Guest panelists will be psychologist Julie Teeter, who specializes in
adolescents; Jean Rapp, a mother who recently lost her 22-year-old daughter
to drugs; Windy Swetman, a law enforcement officer in charge of the DARE
program in Harrison County; and a 17-year-old inmate from the Harrison
County jail.

"The best anti-drug is parental supervision," Swetman said.

In truth, teens turn to drugs for a variety of reasons, including peer
pressure, experimentation and to get away from problems.

"A common misconception is that a person using drugs is the only one
affected," said Gulfport High junior Finn Cox. "In actuality, their loved
ones and those around them are also affected."

Sophomore Sarah Grant Holleman said parental involvement is the key.

"Parents could prevent their children from using drugs by knowing where
they are, who they are with and what they are doing," she said.

The show will address topics such as how big a problem drugs really are;
how accessible drugs are to teens; what drugs teens hear about or see; why
teens use drugs; how much drug abuse costs the community; anti-drug
campaigns; and what parents can do early on to prevent drug abuse among
their children.

"People need to realize that even though drugs feel good when they're
taking them, they'll really hurt them in the long run," said 16-year-old
Scott Golden of Gulfport High.