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Show T A roasHo boastf about 'll Davis tL OIL 1 Wednesday Teem Brag Use Serious May 1985 LIGHTER SIDE A humorous look at serous topics You and neighbors may be drug culprits CYCLOPS Guest Writer There were men and women silling around the table. As this weeks lead story indicates, they were discussing drug abuse in the Bountiful area, and many were startled at the case of purchasing drugs and the young age of the 15 users. But I wasn't startled. Just two days earlier while visiting a junior high school, I saw three 8th graders caught smoking marijuana. They had purchased it that same morning old Kaysville girl. from a There is no question that drug abuse is a problem. But who is the culprit? ar Is the drug dealer the culprit? Hes an easy mark, but he doesnt bear full responsibility. Hes merely filling a void and meeting a product deI i i i mand, the entire concept of the free enterprise system. If he were selling Pontiacs, hed be on the coverof a national news magazine. But lets face it, without a buyer the dealer would be selling used cars in five minutes. $25,000 of Drugs sold weekly in area high schools A teachers firsthand experience with parent. GARY R. BLODGETT BRIAN GREY news editor Hardly! The schools were created to educate in basic skills, not bear the burden of solving societys problems. And they aren't that effective in these areas. Drivers education teachers have been focusing on drunk driving for many years, but juvenile drunk driving cases continue to rise. Secondly, teachers tend to be conservative, not I doubt Supt. relating to students in the drug culture--an- d Welling will issue an edict that his Personnel Department seek teacher contracts for former drag users. And even if he did, kids respond better to Mick Jagger and REO Speedwagon than their balding history teacher. Are the police culprit? No. ..Theyve learned that an arrest of a teenager leads to the Juvenile Court which too often slaps a wrist and hands out cupcakes for punishment. The police still make arrests--bu- t their role ends there. - It was my last year LAYTON it was the of teaching school-a- nd last period of the day when the father entered my classroom to review his sons poor performance. His son w'as on the football team and was among his well-know- THE FATHER began. "1 dont understand what the problem is. - How ndency My son has always done well in English until this year. Hes fallen his down in every subject-b- ut w orse in your class than are grades any otner." serious is the drag and problem in Davis alcohol-depe- County? AMONG teenagers and young adults, the problem is critical, according to more than a dozen Are the churches the culprit? one-oune- fine--it'- INSIGHTS ON DRUGS in the field who discussgathered for a round-tabl- e ion last week. And for the most part, experiences that were related were firsthand - those who have been in- percent of all juvenile arrests and 54 percent of all adult arrests In 1984 were related to drugs and alcohol Marijuana is still the drug "of choice but cocaine and amphetemines are rising in popularity along with the of LSD and similar "acid" strains. In Bountiful Ony, C2 -- t volved or parents of children currently or formerly dependent on drugs or alcohol. A former high school PANEL included parents of children: law enforcement officers assigned to the Davis County drug task force; a school vice principal; drag rehabilitation specialists; counselors of drug and alcohol abusers; social workers; a representative of the THF, f i er t t SALLY IS a former addict and dealer of "hard drags" to students of a local high school. She's now rehabilitated and is working with Davis County law enforcement officers to reduce or eliminate, if possible, the terrible experiences the Bountiful area pro-rate- t "Schools should Rulon Homer, , encountered during the past years. Sally admits to being a user and dealer for the past five years -dealing primarily in one high school from her car in the school parking lot. she five of Bountiful High School: vice-princip- al not be the whipping boy; our teachers are trained to educate in subject fields and they do not have superior knowledge in drug counseling." Lynne MickeL representative of Davis Counly Alcohol and Drug Services: "You need to have a license to drive; you don't need any license to be a parent." Bountiful Mayor Dean Stahle: What scares me is that some young people find life so drab that they must turn to drugs for their recreation and excitement." Former High School Drug Dealer. "Drugs are as accessible on a school campus as buying a beer." t "A GOOD day would bring me $800 and it was not unusual to gross $5, (XX) in one week," she said. She did this day after day for five years -- In substances. Marvin Carter, family intervention specialist for St. Benedict's ACT Center: "when I speak at elementary schools, there Is always a child who at 9 or 10 years of age is already addicted to alcohol." Bountiful Mother: -- My daughter was first introduced to drugs from a neighbor boy. They were both in the fourth grade. If d from a 1984 study of Utah high school seniors, the Bountiful area has 900 students ages 17 and 18 who use marijuana on a monlhly basis; more than 100 of them use marijuana every day. anonymous, or ficticious names will he used. But their comments will express their own feelings and personal experiences. paiking lot and the kids would come to me for drags - any kind they wanted from marijuana to LSD and cocaine. I sold to those who wanted to buy, but I never pushed or forced in uny way a student to begin taking drugs." drug dealer reports she sold an average of $800 In drugs per day at one high school parking lotand that there were several other students at the same school with a similar volume. Her estimates Indicate drug sales of some $7,000 per day at the three Bountiful-are- a high schools. About 80 percent of all crimes for monetary gain in southern Davis County were linked to the Influence of drug and alcohol or the need to purchase controlled AssociatCounty Parent-Teachion - and even a former addict and former drag dealer. Because of the circumstances, some of the names will remain even after graduating from the school. "1 set up my office in the school $25,000 a week was being spent for dings." Can you assume that it was a similar situation in each of the other schools, she was asked. OF COURSE, she replied, worse. said the main drug being used was marijuana, but nearly all or Paraphenalia used by the students was manufactured locally right in the schools ceramic, wood and plastic shops. She said the teachers probably did not know then, or know now, that these things are going on within the schools. She DnuGcnr.iiHAnp::'' A tlx wtek TuMday, May public - tied lubdry J t; ' a7 to fci tO CJ f ( pc,. jLT? . ponton, ext O'. Y r od od W,:i tecouoof alcohol uj 7, - , r ' v-v ' SALLY SAID that neatly all her friends were hooked on "hard stuff ' and it took a lot to pay for the habit but not all that she was able to obtain through sales to high school students. If she grossed $5 .(XX) a week - or anywhere near that amount, you would think she was the only dealer in the school. Not so. -- "1 HERE U ERE five to 10 other dealers," she said. "1 was probably the biggest, but there were a few who gave me competition. You could easily assume that up to knew his son well. He was con- I -- There is little doubt that the righteous often walk with blinders. When they talk of a little piece of heaven, they are referring to celestial spheres, whereas the drug users e bag. But the churpiece of heaven comes in a ches cant shoulder all the responsibility. A good section of drug users dont respond to clerical intervention. So who is the culprit? It could be you. ..and your neighbor! The worst thing about drug abuse is that too often parents ignore it. Some parents are naive, some are embarrassed and some arc simply lazy. Denial is easier than facing the problem. The chief culprit is the father who says. "Oh, boys will s be boys'. ..or the mother who says "My daughter is those other kids she hangs around with". ..or the couple who cant attend a citizens drug abuse meeting because it conflicts with their bowling night. ..or the woman who says, "Why wont the schools discipline my son--- l cant do it"... The culprit is the woman who says, Things like this just dont happen in Utah". ..and the man who says, "In my day, we had our little flings, too". ..and the couple who hope their child will "grow out of it". ..and parents who won't attend a drag conference because "our friends might see us." But the worst culprit is the man or woman who ignore the problem saying, "Let's not focus on the negative side. We dont want to hear about it." This column is entiled "The Lighter Side." but there is very little humor in drug abuse. The only "humor" is that some people laugh about the problem. They might die laughing! n classmates. the needy. "experts Are the schools the culprit? special reporter Editor's Note: Because of the alarming Increase in use of drugs and alcohol among teenagers in Davis County, the Clipper and will attempt lo bring to light the problem; what is being done, and what might be done to aid youngsters. Stories will appear each week lor the next several weeks that will include interviews with drag addicts, parents of addicted, school officials, counselors, rehabilitation workers, law enforcement officers and others. We are not trying to sensationalize the situation only to help were -- poly-use- rs - mixing their drugs. LSD was popular then, faded from the high school scene fora few years, but is coming back this year. Other new drugs are also being ng to experimented with, accordipanel members. SALLY NOTED that nearly all associates were heavy drug usand mixed or used a variety of drugs. She said at peak times she her ers would use lars worth weekend. several hundred dol- of drugs over a WHO GETS involved with drugs? What types of families do they come from? How do teenagers get involved? Why? Counselors, rehab technicians, all parents, and users hemselves have different answers - because answer. there is no hard-fa-- st IT HAPPENS to youngsters in elementary schools. Yes, there are even dealers in elementary grades, some as young as. 10 years of age, the panel noted. see DRUG DEALER next pg. stantly tardy and his eyes were frequently dazed when he attended the class following lunch. The boys moods shifted one moment he was laughing at the slightest comment, the next moment he was surly and cruel. The father acted I told him. concerned. So "THERE IS no doubt." I said, is heavily into drugs. Just today I saw him stuffing when I something up his nose-a- nd it he out ran him about of the , asked class. You and I both know that more and more students are using cocaine, and its something for y ou to be aw'are of. Im glad you came because it will save me alerting the that your son school administration or the police. The father frowned and pondered a moment before his next question. Finally, he muttered. What would this do to my sons ability to make the team? Thats all he cares about is athletics'. IF YOUR son is on drugs." I countered, he will not be allowed to participate in sports. But thats a minor thing compared to what drugs are doing to him personally. expected the father to agree and to thank me for the information. He didnt! 1 HETURNEDto me and said. "If you say anything to anybody about my boy being on drugs. Ill have your job! You're just say ing this to me because you dont like him and I won't have it. You'll lose your job and I'll see to that." Then he changed his tone. LETS FACE it!" he said. Boys today are a little wild, okay? And he's like the other boys and has probably gone out for a few beers. He got stopped the other day by the police for drinking you know, weve all done that when we were young. L.ets not hammer a boy because of a few beer--bu- t, beers. ''We're not talking about said. "We're talking about drugs, and theres not much else to say since we dont agree on yout son's condition. beers, 1 1 STOOD up and said. As far as your son's grade in English, he is not performing well due to his physical condition and lack of interest. You can try to have me fired if ou y wish." I wasn't fired-b- ut boy improve. neither did the CAN A teacher influence a students attitude toward drugs or alcohol? Slightly, but not without the fathers and mother's support. |