DRUG WAKE-UP CALL

This is in response to the article in the Feb. 2 Herald concerning drugs at
Manatee High School. As you stated in your editorial on the following day,
this disturbing account of drug addiction should be another wake-up call to
administrators and parents about teen drug abuse.

Principal Lynda Boyer and district officials need to look into helping
these students and not be so concerned about what article ended up in the
Macohi. This is serious and it needs to be addressed in a helpful way for
all students in Manatee County. I know Manatee High is not the only school
with this problem, but it is where my daughter's problem began.

We moved to Manatee County in 1981 and our daughter entered Manatee High
School for her senior year. That was the time and the place where she first
got involved with drugs. She is now 37 and has been fighting this addiction
battle for all of these years. A life full of frightening experiences and
illnesses, including hip replacement, have followed. At last she seems to
be more able to cope and stay away from these drugs, but this is, of
course, a one-day-at-a-time situation.

I encourage all the teachers, parents, and interested parties to do
whatever is needed to find the root of this problem and eliminate it. The
drug dealers need to know Manatee County schools will not tolerate any form
of harm coming to its students. Let's not let any student fall through the
cracks.

SALLY DeTURK Bradenton