Dukakis Fights Drug Abuse in Schools

Propelled by the results of a statewide survey that education officials say showed disturbingly high levels of drug and alcohol abuse among junior and senior high school students. Gov. Michael S. Dukakis has decided to launch a new campaign against drug and alcohol use in the Commonwealth's public schools.

The state survey found that drug and alcohol abuse levels are consistently higher in Massachussetts schools than in schools across the country, said Barbara Kopans, a spokesman for the Massachussetts Anti-Crime Council, the organization which conducted the survey.

Next month, Dukakis will ask communities to "take a second look" at their drug and alcohol problem and to develop prevention policies based on the results of the survey, said Marion Lee, the official in charge of the program.

The Governor is expected to emphasize identifying drug and alcohol abuse problems early on and involving parents as soon as they are discovered.

Drug-Free Zone

"The first step is to create a drug-free zone within the school," said a member of the subcommittee who wished to be unidentified. The committee member added that up until now there has been a "lack of coordination" between teachers, administrators, parents and the community.

"The policy will have to be community based," Lee said adding that the state will not ask schools to follow a specific model policy because schools have different social characteristics which must be accounted for in anti-drug abuse policies.

William J. Downing, director of the Cambridge school system's drug and alcohol abuse program, noted for example that in poorer areas parents are not as aware of the problems caused by drug abuse.

Dukakis began the process of setting up community programs. Friday by meeting with about 15 school representatives and briefing them on the state's plans. He also asked them to organize a community substance abuse meeting for December 5, the day he makes public the results of the survey and the statewide plans.

Cambridge School Superintendent Robert J. Peterkin attended the meeting with the Governor and a school spokesman said that he will set up a community meeting for December 5.

A subcommittee of the Anti-Crime Council has given the Governor a series of recommendations for improvements in fighting drug and alcohol abuse in the schools. The committee has not yet released its recommendations, but Lee said it pointed out three school programs, in Sharon. Wilmington and Brockton which were working to prevent the problem.

Superintendent of the Sharon schools John Maloney, also a member of the committee, said that Sharon program tries to involve the parents in the program b8 reducing suspensions for drug-related offenses if the parents and students agree to drug counseling.

Contract Law

If a student is found with drugs or alochol more than once, the Sharon school system requires the student and his parents to agree in writing to a specific drug rehabilition program. If the offer is refused the school system files a complaint against the family in juvenile court.

"There is a clear message that we want to create a drug-free environment in the schools," Maloney said.

Drugs 101

In Vermont, a 1983 law requires that all schools to teach a statewide educational curriculum on substance abuse from Kindergarten through high school. "The curriculum is broad enough for all schools to use," explained Rufus Chaffee, director of the program.

Cambridge already has a drug policy which the school committee passed last year making it universal throughout Cambridge, Downing said. But he added. "We are just starting to wake up the community and get parents involved."