Drugs: Jail or death

It's all about choices and consequences.

A strong message about drug use was delivered to mostly eighth-grade students this week in a Glenn County Drugstore program.

Students throughout the county spent time at St. Monica's Church in Willows where they participated in a dramatic educational program that focused on the consequences of using drugs.

"We show them what will happen," coordinator Karen Dexter said.

Members of Friday Night Live, a countywide program open to high school students, local employers and volunteers from the community created a scenario that simulated a youngster overdosing on drugs and the consequences. Among the volunteers wer recovering drug addicts.

Glenn Myers, who runs Unity in Recovery, said several people from the recovery houses in Orland donated their time because it is important for them to make a difference in the community.

"When we heal addicts, we heal the community. When we heal the community, we heal us all," Myers said.

The 10-stage scenario begins with a discussion about tobacco, then got into full swing at the "Pharmacy." Next was Juvenile Hall, the Courtroom, a party, a hospital emergency room and a funeral, followed by a debriefing.

In the "Pharmacy," local narcotics agents talked about gateway drugs — alcohol, marijuana and inhalants — before getting down to the effects of drugs like heroin, cocaine, crack and methamphetamine.

Since the event focused on

methamphetamine, students heard about the toxic chemicals used to make the drug — Draino and rubbing alcohol among many others found in almost any home.

"It's very dangerous," the agent repeated about all drugs, including prescription medications.

As students walked past a table displaying various drugs, a volunteer stole a bag of methamphetamine. Police caught her, put her in handcuffs and arrested her as the students watched.

That's when the real drama began.

At Juvenile Hall, a probation officer told them what happens and who they'd be around there.

As Thongsouk Thakhamphou, 17, who played "Anna," was being put in shackles and escorted from the room, a probation officer told students, "If you use meth once, you can be addicted for life."

Preparing to enter the Courtroom, Thakhamphou, an Orland High School student, said she volunteered because "I wanted to try something new. I usually don't stand up for myself."

But even at that point, she said the experience was "scary."

The Juvenile Court scene replicated actual proceedings with volunteers and government employees playing the judge, probation officer, district attorney, defense attorney and a member of the Treatment Team.

Charged with theft and possession of a controlled substance, Anna was sentenced to 60 days in Juvenile Hall and probation.

"We'll take you away from your cozy home and watch you 24-hours a day," the probation officer told her.

She also would have to go to counseling, group treatment and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. And, if she didn't follow the rules, she'd go back to Juvenile Hall.

Joe Sites, who played the judge, said students "seem to take it very seriously. They are mostly sober-serious" during the proceedings.

One time to many

A tough dose of reality hits in the next session, a party scene. Anna's friend wanted her to go out, but she explained, "I'm in trouble. I don't want to get in more trouble."

But she did not resist the peer pressure and ended up in a room filled with teenagers drinking and doing drugs. When someone offered her drugs, she refused — at first. But, again, she succumbed to peer pressure.

It was the last mistake she would ever make.

The scene became chaotic. After Anna collapsed on the floor and someone called 9-1-1, sirens were heard outside. The police came in first, then firefighters and finally an ambulance siren prepared the way for the paramedics.

Anna was put on a gurney and placed in the back of the ambulance, which drove to the other side of the parking to the "Emergency Room."

There, Dr. Jared Garrison explained what was being done to try to save the young girl's life and what medical professionals and first responders deal with all too often.

In the end, none of their efforts worked and, once a parent was brought in, Anna was pronounced dead.

Janell Wilcox, who played Anna's mom, said the experience for her as a volunteer was "pretty dramatic."

A recovering addict and the mother of children ages 17, 18 and 19, she said of Glenn County Drugstore that "this is an impressionable age. They need to see this. It could happen to any of them."

During an authentic funeral service — complete with a coffin and flower arrangement, the Rev. Tina Haynes told the group, "She didn't know the consequences of her actions. If she had to do it over again, she would not have taken that first step into the party."

Later, she said, "This is amazing. Watching these kids react to the whole situation is so impressive. ... The kids are always very respectful.

C.K. Price Middle School student Victor Raigozu, 13, said, "This is a great program. It will change my life."

His friend Marcos Martinez, 14, agreed. "It's very serious if you get involved in drugs," he said. "I was thinking about it, but now I'll never use drugs."

Volunteer Alex Galvin of Orland, a Butte College student who works as a peer counselor with Transition Age Youth, said he volunteered because it sounded like a good program.

Willows Intermediate School principal Steve Sailsbery said the program "is great for kids," emphasizing the importance of teaching young people about the impact drug use can have on them and the people around them.

The students were reminded at every session that they have the power to choose the direction their lives will go.

Contact Lydia Harris at 934-6800 or lharris@tcnpress.com.