ANCHOR BIOS | WEB EXCLUSIVES | COMMUNITY | HOME

Community Support Keeps Drug Prevention Program Going Strong 11/18/09

Jordan Reagan
CBS 7 News
November 18, 2009

Fort Stockton, Texas - First National Bank in Fort Stockton is one of the major sponsors in helping the Sheriff's Department get the word out about drug abuse. As financial experts, they realize that drug abuse can be a very costly ordeal.

"One person having to be rehabilitated, it costs our community and our county, and our government a lot more money than it would if someone just said no."

But of course, it's not about the money.

"When you get into a personal involvement, the way that it destroys lives and families, there's just no way to compare."

They're helping to pay for and distribute booklets and magazines with information about every kind of illegal drug out there, to educate students and arm parents with knowledge.

"We take it very seriously because so many of us have either gone to school here, we have kids in school now, and in some way, we're all affected by the drugs."

The big kids aren't the only ones learning the dangers of drug abuse - age appropriate information is sent down to the elementary schools, from the 5th grade, all the way down to Kindergarteners.

"To teach the kids in our community the skills that they need to be able to live positive, effective, drug free and violence free lives."

The D.A.R.E. program in Fort Stockton is one of the only programs of its kind still in place in the Permian Basin, thanks to help from sponsors and local government entities.

"I think it speaks volumes for not only our school district, but also for our police department, and our county, that we feel that our children are that important, and that valuable that we keep this program."

The D.A.R.E. program will hold their annual graduation ceremony for Fort Stockton 5th graders on Thursday, December 3rd.

The ceremony marks the end of a 10-week program of drug abuse awareness and prevention.

---