14
vernonia prevention coalition
april10
2012
The content on this page is provided by the Vernonia Prevention Coalition
Be a Piece of the Puzzle: Making a Difference at 1000 Feet
By DeAnna Pearl
Have you taken a
look lately at the Vernonia
school calendar? If you do, you will
see an amazing juxtaposition of dates
and events, both school and community
related, jockeying for space on campus.
Small communities like Vernonia depend
on their schools to provide for gathering
spaces. With this availability also comes
responsibility to adhere to the policies in
place to keep youth and families safe
and healthy. Hence the tobacco, drug
and alcohol free zones and during school
sponsored or partnered events on school
grounds.
It is also important to know
what is prohibited within 1000 feet (any
direction) of your kid’s school. First
let’s establish what 1000 feet looks
like from the boundaries’ of the school
in its current location: District Office
to Madison; Washington Grade School
National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Are you feeling desperate, alone or
hopeless? Call the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline a free, 24-hour
hotline available to anyone in suicidal
crisis or emotional distress. Your call
will be routed to the nearest crisis
center to you.
Veterans Suicide
Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-TALK (8255) Press 1
to the fire department; VHS office to
Anderson Park; VHS office to C Street.
As for the new site, that isn’t so clear yet
but the boundaries set will still be the
same: 1000 feet in all directions.
In 1982, Sen. Strom Thurmond
introduces a crime crack-down bill that
would make it a federal crime to sell drugs
within 1,000 feet of a school. In 1984,
Congress passes the Comprehensive
Crime Control Act, providing
tougher sentences for those
convicted of selling drugs
within 1,000 feet of a school.
By 1986, the Safe and Drug-
Free Schools & Communities
Act (SDFSCA) was established.
Unfortunately, outside of the
1000 feet of a school zone,
the penalties are different and
individuals are often released
without being charged.
The purpose of the
SDFSCA is to support programs
that: (1) prevent violence in and
around schools; (2) prevent the
illegal use of alcohol, tobacco,
and drugs; (3) involve parents
and communities; and, (4)
are coordinated with related
Federal, State, school, and community
efforts and resources to foster a safe
and drug-free learning environment that
promotes student academic achievement.
It is common that if an individual is found
in possession of schedule I or II drugs,
without a written prescription, they are
more likely to be looking to distribute.
More often than not, the person is school
aged and seeking to sell to other minors.
The current VSD 47J’s
Substance/Drug Abuse policy reflects
this. According to the policy it is
prohibited to manufacture, distribute,
purchase, administer, or to be in
possession of schedule I or II drugs
and is a Class A Felony. Schedule I
drugs include hydrocodone, methadone,
oxycodone, heroin, meth, cocaine,
and MDMA (ecstasy). Schedule II
drugs included alcohol, tobacco, and
marijuana. Further, it is illegal to be in
possession of objects or devices to ingest,
inject or deliver said drugs. The District
policy, as in all polices developed by the
district, is reinforced by Oregon Revised
Statutes. You can find this ORS and
others at www.leg.state.or.us/ors.
The impact of Drug Free School
Zones helps keep our kids safe from
outside influences during the school day.
According to the 2011 Oregon Healthy
Teen (OHT) survey there is a significant
reduction of use and distribution on
school grounds. Minors who report
seeing or using ATOD’s on school
campus is at an all time low. This can
be attributed to the tougher drug free
work place laws and Drug Free School
Zone enforcement by administration.
Both these laws hold students, staff and
visitors’ accountable while on school
property and its surroundings.
Unfortunately, in the same 2011
OHT report, marijuana, heroin, alcohol
and prescription drug abuse is on the rise.
If students are not buying and using on
school campus, it is not hard to deduce
they are access the above mention drugs
in community settings. In Vernonia,
the use of illegal drugs and prescription
drugs has risen 25% between 2008 and
2011 for 11 th graders. Student reported
that is easier than ever to obtain alcohol,
illicit and Rx drugs; up to 85% easier.
But there is hope for younger students
coming up the ranks.
Great News! The reverse is
being seen in middle school. There is an
85-100% reduction in alcohol, marijuana
and prescription abuse by 8 th graders.
This is largely due to the redoubled efforts
of best practice prevention programming
in 7 th and 8 th grades. Nationally only
15% of the nation’s schools have an
active prevention program: VSD 47J
is one of those districts. Programs and
trainings have been supported by
the Vernonia Prevention Coalition
since 2009. Students are not only
benefiting from the efforts but
are active participants in the turn
around.
Like last year, the OSSOM
youth are ready to make extra
efforts to counter this upward trend
for upperclassmen. The week
before prom OSSOM Students
are preparing for a Health Teen
Week April 16-20 th . The youth are
preparing a Teen Health Fair, media
awareness, and UAD Drinking
Awareness Town Hall. They have
been working since October to
promote safe and healthy choice
making by their fellow students.
OSSOM students care about
not only what happens on campus, but
outside of their 1000 buffer zone. The
community is invited to join school
students on Friday April 20 th , to witness
the aftermath of an accident caused
by underage drinking. Students will
be using footage from the 2010 SKID
event to set the stage for lingering
consequences of driving drunk and
buzzed. Unfortunately, this is still the
#1 cause of death for teens.
The Drug Free School Zone of
1000 feet is working. School districts
like Vernonia are seeing is a reduction
of use, abuse and side effects on school
grounds. Communities as a whole could
learn a lot from the intolerance of the
manufacturing, distribution of, purchase
of, administer of, or to be in possession
of schedule I or II drugs in and around
minors specifically within the city and
county limits. Ensuring an extra bite
to individuals targeting our children as
customers seems to be working.
DeAnna Pearl is the Director of the
Vernonia Prevention Coalition. You
can reach her at (503) 369-7370 or
DeAnna@vernonia-or.gov