SOUTH COUNTY : Anti-Drug Message Is Taken to Schools

Preventing drug use among South County’s student population was the topic Thursday as a dozen local politicians spoke to high school seniors at three high schools.

The anti-drug crusade came during the first Government in Education day sponsored by the Capistrano Unified School District.

Although city, state and federal officials said they were encouraged by the positive responses during their classroom visits, the students painted a grimmer picture of campus drug use and the ineffectiveness of programs like the “Just Say No” campaign.

“A lot of people don’t take it seriously,” said one 17-year-old senior who said he no longer uses drugs. “I used to laugh at ‘Just Say No’ all the time. And I’m clean now, but I could get (drugs) any time if I wanted them.”

The message taken to the classrooms by Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad), city officials from Dana Point, Mission Viejo and San Clemente, and aides to two state assemblymen was that the war on drugs begins with the individual.

But the politicians also acknowledged that their message probably had little effect on the beliefs of drug users in an age group that is not old enough to vote and pays little attention to government issues.

“You can’t (stop drug use) by standing in front of a class and lecturing,” said Dana Point Councilman William Bamattre. “Most kids say they do drugs out of curiosity.”

Instead, the officials said, the answer to preventing drug use among teen-agers is to use role models such as school athletes and celebrities and to establish a bottom line that the student is responsible for his own choices--not the choices of his parents or teachers.

Presentations by local police departments, ex-drug addicts and other anti-drug campaigns have proved successful, said Nancy Smith, principal of Ole Hanson Elementary School in San Clemente.

But some students disagreed.

“I don’t really think any of this has much impact,” said Capistrano Valley High School senior Gretchen Fleishcli, 17.

“It’s nice to hear the facts from someone who makes decisions for us, but there is always going to be a struggle.”