editorial comment What does 10x more addictive means???

Ignorance can be deadly when it comes to teen drug use.

That's the message law enforcement officials will share next week during a drug awareness workshop planned for parents and teenagers.

Operation Save Teens will be held at the Eufaula High School little theater Tuesday, Feb. 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The 90-minute program will teach parents and children about drug use in Barbour County.

The Tuesday program is designed for parents, though students in seventh grade and up are invited to attend. A similar program will be held the following day for Eufaula High School students and likely at Barbour County High School in the near future.

Detective Gail Hudson of the Eufaula Police Department said the drug problem in Eufaula and other cities is worse than many people think.

"If people knew what was out there, they may not let their kids leave the home," she said. "This is an excellent program...It's going to be very graphic."

According to a press release sent by Michelle Welch, Barbour County chief juvenile probation officer, the program is "honest, hard-hitting and will open your eyes to the pressure faced by today's teens."

Marijuana used to be the drug of choice in Barbour County. Now, it is crack cocaine.

However, students are also experimenting with other drugs, including methamphetamines, which are 10 times more addictive than crack cocaine, according to the Barbour County Drug Task Force, and oxycotin, a pain-relieving narcotic that can be used as a substitute for heroin.

Hudson said Barbour County teenagers and young adults of all socio-economic classes abuse drugs. They can be rich and poor, white and black or male and female.

Last year, a local informant estimated there were up to 200 teenage meth users in Eufaula.

Several sources have reported that many youth go beyond the city limits-particularly beyond the paved portion of Fox Ridge Road-to use drugs such as crack and meth.

Those teenagers are not just putting themselves at risk. They put innocent lives in danger, too-particularly when they're on the road driving.

"They're putting the public in danger," Hudson said.

It's not difficult for local teenagers to get the drugs. Hudson said the city's close proximity to Auburn and Troy universities along with other colleges doesn't help.

Unfortunately, many parents are naïve about the dangers of drugs, according to Hudson. They think the problem only affects a few groups of people.

"A lot of times we look at our children and say they wouldn't do that," Hudson said. "We need to have parents looking out for the kids, and taking some responsibility for them."

Program organizers hope after the workshop, parents will better know the warning signs of possible drug use. For example, a baby pacifier, surgical mask, vapor rub, light bulb and kitchen matches can all be used with drugs.

"The signs are there if you know what to look for," Hudson said.

The Juvenile Court of Barbour County, Eufaula Police Department, ACATA, Barbour County Schools, Bradford Health Services, Eufaula City Schools and Regional Alliance 4 Children are helping sponsor the event.

For more information on the event, call Welch at 687-1566 or Hudson at 687-1200.

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