By Shari Kaplan
Instead of passively hoping that the anti-drug rhetoric of the adult world will get through to their substance-abusing peers, a group of local middle- and high-school students is working with the Drug Free Community Coordinating Committee of Los Gatos to make an effective difference.
The informal student group convened on Dec. 7 and again on Jan. 8. At each meeting, students spent more than an hour getting acquainted with one another and with the problems faced by their fellow students at Fisher and Union middle schools, and Los Gatos and Leigh high schools.
Through brainstorming sessions and discussions with Los Gatos Police Chief Larry Todd and Capt. Jeff Miller, the dozen or so students pinpointed four main problems facing young people today: smoking, drugs, alcohol and violence. Joining that list were four goals the students would like to see come to fruition:
* eliminate the passive tolerance of drug abuse;
* create a culture where it is OK not to use drugs;
* create a culture where it is OK to speak out against and report drug use among students;
* create a safe atmosphere on campus to learn and participate.
Regarding the issues of substance abuse and peer pressure, Todd said that student input at the meetings is valuable because adults rarely solicit input from those who are most involved and closest to the problem.
"We may not personally use drugs or alcohol, or belong to a gang, but to be cool, we don't say anything to others when they do it. It's better to turn your head and pretend its not happening than to do what's right. How do we get to a point where it's more OK to turn kids in?" Todd asked.
Students were eager to share their opinions on this and related matters. Union Middle School student Tamara Dunn suggested creating a place--on campus or off--at which young people can escape social pressures to try drugs, share a drink or light up a cigarette. John Fahimi, a student at Leigh High School, suggested more opportunities for peer counseling.
The group determined that one of the most effective campaigns against substance abuse would be a presentation by local high-school students--old enough to be positive role models, yet young enough to identify with students in the lower grade levels.
"Kids don't necessarily like to listen to adults all the time," Union Middle School student Matt Ralstin reminded the group.
Other means the students talked about for lessening substance abuse included comic books, art or poster contests, catchy jingles, slogans or songs, more stringent enforcement and penalties, publicity in school newspapers and other media, more on-campus monitors during recess or breaks and in-services or other training sessions to make teachers and administrators more sensitive to and educated about the problems of today's young people.
"I want to do more than talk about these things and put them on paper. I want them to become a reality," Todd said, encouraging the students to be ready with more good ideas and ways of implementing them for the group's Feb. 12 meeting.
The Drug Free Community Coordinating Committee is a coalition of representatives of local government, schools, service clubs and the general community who meet once a month during the school year to discuss issues affecting young people in Los Gatos and beyond. For more information, call Capt. Miller at 354-5257.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, January 24, 1996.
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