Drugs, gangs the topic of school meeting

Parents will get a lesson of their own Tuesday night about drug and gang awareness.

Law enforcement officers will teach parents at DeLay Middle School what to look for, how to handle drug use or gang involvement, and how to prevent involvement.

"We want to get the word out to the parents and make them aware of what is going on," said Jennifer Hughes, Communities and Schools of North Texas campus manager.

Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent, Michelle Deaver will do a presentation to about drug use in students. Deaver has spent the last 19 years working undercover in the north Texas area with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Deaver's presentation includes a backpack full of what parents may think is normal everyday school items. Items in the backpack are common places children hide drug paraphernalia. Students sometimes use Coke cans with false bottoms, highlighters without a highlighter and lipstick tubes with pipes or drugs stuffed inside, Deaver said.

"Parents go through the cosmetics bags and think there is nothing in there," she said.
Deaver says the best way for parents to prevent drug use is to be involved in their children by having their friends come to the house.

"My sister-in-law has a 15-year-old that she sits next to on the couch when he comes home so she can smell him and see his eyes," Deaver said.

Role playing about what to do if children are offered drugs is also a good preventative measure.

"It gives them something solid to say because they usually can't think of things like that off the top of their heads," Deaver said.

Lewisville Police Officer Luis Reyes will be speaking on the issue of gangs in the community. The presentation will include signs of possible gang involvement, such as drawings, symbols, pictures, clothing and more, and what to do if a parent thinks their child may be involved with a gang.