Safe & Drug-Free Schools Program

WELCOME
The mission of the Safe & Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program is to educate students, school personnel, and the community in the areas of drug abuse and violence prevention, promote good character, and to provide guidance for healthier, safer lives to all.

Choices
Choices is a program designed for students in all middle and high schools in violation of the LPSS students smoking policy. Choices is a two hour after school program. The Choices program works in conjunction with Lafayette General Medical Center.

Guidance
The Guidance Program is designed for middle and high school students in violation of the LPSS substance abuse policies. Students and their parents attend this program in order to remain in school . It provides substance abuse and alcoholism education.

SASSI
The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) is given to middle and high school students in violation of the LPSS substance abuse policy. Parents are consulted regarding the screening results.

D.A.R.E.
Substance abuse lessons are taught to 6th and 8th grade students by trained Police Officers for l7 weeks.

Crimestoppers
The student Crimestoppers Program functions in the same manner as the Crimestoppers program in our community. A student calling in a tip is assigned a case number for anonymity and receives a cash reward if the tip is good.

Resource Officers
Certified Police Officers interact with students, teachers, and administrators through on site patrols of all high school campuses.

K-9 Officer
A commissioned deputy and canine trained in narcotics/ammunition detection performs school searches of school grounds, lockers, automobiles, bags and parcels.

Classroom Presentations
Safe & Drug-Free and violence prevention lessons are scheduled for students at each grade level, taught by Safe & Drug-Free Advisors.

Individual Sessions
Substance Abuse Advisors are available for students experiencing problems or needing more information regarding substance abuse or violence related matters.

Support Groups
Support groups are forums for discussion facilitated by Safe & Drug-Free Advisors.

Training
Training for students includes NCBI (National Coalition Building Institute) training for high school students provided to enhance violence prevention efforts on each campus. Training for teachers is provided annually through BESE required in-service training. Training for parents is provided for the Just Say No Program, Project Graduation, and other parent trainings..

Parents Corner

DEA Says Misuse of Cough Syrup/Soft Drink Mix on Rise

Mixing cough syrup and soft drinks or power drinks has become a popular to get high in some parts of the U.S., the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says.

USA Today reported Oct. 19 that users mix prescription cough suppressants containing promethazine and codeine with soda or sports drinks, sometimes adding a Jolly Rancher candy and ice. The mix causes euphoria and impairs motor skills.

The trend got national attention when Terrance Kiel, a defensive back for the San Diego Chargers, was arrested last month for allegedly having cases of cough syrup shipped to his home in East Texas. The cough-medicine cocktails, known as "Lean," "Sizzurp," "Purple Drank," or other nicknames, are especially popular in the region.

A 2004 survey found that 8.3 percent of Texas secondary-school students reported using codeine-based cough syrups to get high. Officials from Texas to Florida report misuse of the prescription medication. The syrup often is obtained from online pharmacies.

The syrup sells for about $12 a pint wholesale, but is sold for $300 a pint to dealers who then sell it for $40-85 per ounce to consumers ($640-$1,360 per pint).

Cough-syrup use has been popularized in rap songs, including mixes by Houston disc-jockey DJ Screw (who died of a cocaine overdose in 2000) and songs by Three 6 Mafia ("Sippin' on the Syrup").