Drugs on middle school campus

Parent Cafe
1

<p>A friend told me of an issue at her dd’s middle school, and I’m wondering what you think admin should do, if anything.</p>

<p>Apparently dozens of eighth-graders are suspected of using/distributing/selling. And we’re not talking weed or Ritalin. They are using PCP, heroin, etc. One kid was suspended this week for selling, and I’m not sure what has happened to other kids who supposedly are involved. Some drugs have been confiscated from kids.</p>

<p>My friend only knows this because she’s very involved in the school and has the ear of administrators. So far, she’s only heard about eighth-grade kids, but often seventh-graders take electives with older kids. My question is: Should administrators be informing the wider community? If so, how?</p>

2

<p>Well - they certainly should be informing the police and police records are public.</p>

3

<p>In our state, roughly 10% of 8th grades have “taken prescription opiates” to get high, and that percentage seems to be increasing rapidly. They are pharmaceutically equivalent to heroin, with equal addiction potential, but much more easily obtained. We’ve seen use as early as 4th grade.</p>

<p>For at least some students, the ground for use is prepared by illicit use of Ritalin. “Since it originally comes from a doc, what’s the problem?” is a comment that is often heard.</p>