MARIJUANA, ECSTASY PREVALENT, PANEL SAYS

Although drug use is becoming an increasing problem among Norman
young people, only a handful of people showed up at the Norman
Regional Hospital Education Center Wednesday night to hear a teen
panel address the issue.

Amid a table topped with an array of drug samples and paraphernalia,
area teen-agers and Norman law enforcement agents shared some
startling statistics that are occurring in Norman. The discussion was
part of Red Ribbon Week, the city's annual anti-drug focus week.

"Someone asked me the other day, 'Are drugs a problem in Norman?' I
said, 'No. You can get all you want,'" said Frank Pasierb, an
identification specialist with the Norman Police Department.

The 16-year law enforcement veteran said the most common drug among
Norman-area teens is marijuana. He passed around samples and
explained the different methods used to ingest the drug.

"It's amazing how creative of ways they can find to do it," he said.
"Don't let anyone tell you these things are for burning incense and
what you smell is patchouli oil. It's used to smoke dope. That's all
it's for."

Scott Jacks, a 16-year-old sophomore at Norman High School North,
said that although he is not a drug user, marijuana use is common
among his peers. And it's not just a weekend activity, he said. Jacks
said that when his golf coach announced that team members would be
subject to a drug test, one of the students said, "Well, you'll be
losing most of the team."

"Marijuana is the biggest problem," Jack said. "Some smoke at lunch,
and some even have to smoke before they go to bed at night.

"They won't go to class. They get suspended. They can't play sports
anymore," he added. "I see a lot of people even getting speech
impediments that they didn't have before."

A drug that's becoming increasingly popular in Norman and surrounding
areas is Ecstasy, also known as the "love drug," said Jessica, an 18-
year-old senior at Westmoore High School and the mother of a 9-month-
old.

"It's just the new popular thing to do," she said. "All at once, it
seems everyone is doing it."

Sgt. Gary Shelton of the Norman Police Department said Ecstasy is
usually taken in the form of a pill and may be stamped with a symbol,
such as the Calvin Klein logo.

"It's promoted as a drug that creates love, peace and happiness,"
Shelton said. "That appeals to kids."

Pasierb said parents need to make themselves familiar with what drugs
look and smell like, as well as the physical signs of drug use.
Although parents want to trust their kids, in some cases they must
question their child's behavior.

"If you've just got a question, or if you find something you aren't
sure about, bring it down to the stations, or give us a call," he
said. "Nobody's going to get in trouble unless you want them to."