COUNTY AGENCIES BAND TOGETHER TO BATTLE DRUG USE

Several county agencies are banding together to inform parents about drug
and alcohol abuse problems among young people.

Ann Walker, health and safety education director for the Carteret County
school system, coordinated a meeting of law enforcement and community
service agencies Thursday to discuss the matter.

"There are new types of parties and drugs being introduced to our young
people," said Mrs. Walker. "When I started investigating and talking with
the police and Neuse Mental Health Center, I decided it would be a good
idea to pull a meeting together of people working in health and safety."

Mrs. Walker said law enforcement and community agencies are particularly
concerned about the increased use of the party drug Ecstacy.

"We're not saying we have a serious problem here, but the national rates
show an increased use of Ecstacy. As community agencies, we are here to
support our youth. We felt by networking together we could better inform
our citizens," she said.

Agencies taking part included Carteret County Schools, county, state and
local law enforcement, and Carteret General Hospital.

With April and May high school prom season, Mrs. Walker and other agencies
have coordinated a Parent Awareness Night.

The meeting, which will feature guest speakers and a panel discussion, will
be held Monday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at West Carteret High School.

Guest speakers will include Regional SBI Agent Chevado Trusdell, Rob Nap of
the NCIF from Camp Lejeune, and an Atlantic Beach police officer who has
investigated rave parties, where officials say drug abuse frequently occurs.

"A lot of people don't realize that Ecstacy is a neurological toxin that
stays in the body for 50 years," Mrs. Walker said.

To get a better idea of drug and alcohol use among high-schoolers, the
Criminal Justice Division of Carteret Community College will conduct a
survey of juniors over the next few weeks.

Mrs. Walker said the anonymous survey will be strictly voluntary, and be
conducted during a homeroom period. Results will be given to Mrs. Walker,
who will compile and analyze the data.

"I'm not sure what we'll do after the survey is conducted. It will depend
on the results," she said.

There will also be a discussion about alcohol use among teens, and the
liability of parents who provide alcohol to juveniles.