SCHOOL SYSTEM REVAMPS ANTI-DRUG CURRICULUM; DRUG AWARENESS TO BE EMPHASIZED IN COMING WEEK

Cape Girardeau public schools is fighting the war on drugs on three coordinated fronts prevention, intervention and rehabilitation thanks to the work of a new drug abuse counselor and program coordinator.

Bill Askew was hired in January to coordinate the district's drug abuse prevention programs and as a counselor. His salary is paid through Drug Free Schools and Communities federal grant money.

Next week is national Drug Awareness Week, Askew said. Schools are planning a variety of activities to highlight the prevention activities going on.

Since January he has been reviewing the programs already in place and designing new programs to fill in the gaps.

"The revised curriculum will attack substance abuse from three fronts prevention, intervention and rehabilitation."

He has also introduced three new components to the program: peer education, support groups for elementary students and an intervention program for students at the secondary level.

"The main emphasis we have had and most of what we have done has been in the prevention mode," Askew said. "And most of the work has been in the elementary grades.

"I believe that is the right direction and where we need to be focusing most of our attention," he said. "However, we had a real lack of support for students already in a crisis situation, especially those at the secondary level."

Prevention programs already in place include educational efforts such as Project Charlie, Quest, Dare, Just Say No clubs and Developing Capable People training.

New to the district's prevention line-up is a program called Hi Step (High School Taught Elementary Program), or peer education. Developed by the Missouri Institute for Prevention, high school student learn to teach elementary children about drug abuse.

This summer 30 to 35 Cape Girardeau high school students will attend Missouri's Regional Teen Institute, where they will learn about drug abuse, prevention strategies and skills to assist in developing and conducting school and community prevention activities.

Another new program involves intervention with elementary students who are at risk of becoming drug abusers or who have a family member currently using drugs.

Askew said support groups are being formed to help students learn skills they need to avoid becoming drug abusers, skills like expressing their feelings, developing problem-solving skills and maintaining good self esteem.

"We have already done the identification of students and contacted parents to get permission for students to participate in these groups," said Askew.

"We are going to tap into counseling agencies and the university who already have trained people to volunteer their time," Askew said.

The school system has also developed a referral system for students who may be at risk of drug abuse, including diagnostic service provided by local counseling centers free of charge.

"After the student has completed the diagnostic assessment, a report is sent back to the school where consultation between the school, student and parent develops an appropriate program in the hope of providing the student an avenue for success," he said.

The third front in Cape Girardeau is support services.

"When a student has been diagnosed and enters treatment, there is a need to coordinate and support that individual while they are undergoing treatment," Askew said.

One-on-one counseling sessions are available with Askew. In addition, he has organized support group meetings for students who have been through drug abuse treatment.

"We want to be that anchor for them so when they start dealing with the same problems they had before they have somewhere to turn," Askew said.

Some of the many activities planned during the week are:

At May Greene Elementary School, a visit from police dog Greif, role playing by students from the Just Say No Club, and Get High on Music celebration.

At Charles C. Clippard Elementary School students will sign a pledge not to use drugs. On Thursday night, mini-workshops about drug abuse are planned for parents.

At Central High School, the Grim Reaper will visit students Monday to remind them about deaths caused by substance abuse. On Friday, students will be given buttons that say "Tigers don't need drugs to roar."

At L.J. Schultz Middle School, students will be encouraged to write positive notes to each other and to whistle while they work to show they are happy.

An assembly is planned Tuesday at Franklin Elementary School; speakers are from Mid-America Teen Challenge, a local drug treatment program.

Students at Washington Elementary School will get cookies on Tuesday and a number of other items throughout the week. Askew will talk with the Just Say No Club on Thursday.

At Jefferson Elementary School on Tuesday, Dwayne Rutherford, former Southeast Missouri State University basketball standout, will talk with students about the negative affects of drug use.