Record Crowd Attends PTSA Meeting on Substance Abuse Issues at Malibu High

• Topics Ranged from Instituting Parent Patrols to Using ‘Dope Dogs’

BY ANNE SOBLE

An exchange of letters to the editor that originated in the Malibu Surfside News earlier this month, when the parents of a Malibu High School student voiced concern about the need for increased attention to substance abuse problems on the campus, resulted in the January monthly meeting of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association being devoted to the topic.
With a theme of “It Takes a Village,” a sizable crowd of “villagers” showed up—what MHS-PTSA president Sandy Thacker said was “a record number” of attendees for a PTSA meeting—to address what Thacker said is “an important topic for all parents of middle- and high-schoolers.”
Parents voiced emotions from surprise to shock, as they learned of substance abuse at unsupervised student gatherings at private homes in the community, as well as the 10 violations of district substance abuse policy on campus so far this academic year.
Students attend a special assembly at the start of the school year to acquaint them with this policy, with updates on a regular basis.
The most recent violations at Malibu High occurred in December—one involving two male students; the other, a female student—and required response from the Sheriff’s Department.
Among issues that drew attention was consideration of a renewed effort to find a volunteer to head what is called the “Parent Eyes” program, which coordinates parent volunteers who help to patrol the campus.
Also explored was a return to the policy of having narcotics-trained canines, so-called narco or “dope dogs,” regularly make surprise visits to check out the high school campus.
Another concern that was raised was the perceived lack of non-school activities, what one parent referred to as “inadequate safe and fun options for our teens.”
The need for a larger teen center and more music, art, theater, sports and other programs “to keep teens too busy for drugs after school” was echoed by many.
School drug testing and parental means for at-home testing attracted interest, but many parents said they want to avoid impairing their relationships with their children.
Of overriding concern to many is how it is possible to learn about the extent of student drug use on- or off-campus if students are reluctant to violate a “peer code of honor” and “tell” on their classmates.
A change in attitude in this area is regarded as “important to getting a handle on drug use,” and ways to facilitate providing information anonymously, such as the “Tip” hotline at 1-800-47-DRUGS, were outlined.
A consensus agreed that the shift should be away from penalizing students who use drugs or alcohol to viewing them as individuals who want or need help.
Homeowners were reminded that they can be liable if alcohol or drugs are used by minors on their property. In addition, a business that allegedly sells alcohol to minors was outed.
“Parents need to talk to each other,” was a refrain repeated again and again.
A member of the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station’s Juvenile Intervention Team, or J-team, Deputy Scott Rule, said the station can be contacted at 310-456-6652.
When one parent said he saw students engaged in drug activity in a vehicle and “lectured” them, but didn’t report them, Rule asked what if those students had driven away impaired and killed themselves, or others.
The memory of a fatal crash on Pacific Coast Highway last year involving Newbury Park High School students was still fresh in the minds of many at the meeting.
Thacker told The News that the school could do much more than it now does, if more parents from the 1200 students’ families volunteered for programs that depend on their involvement.
The PTSA president emphasized, “There’s no way to gauge how prevalent drugs are on campus...but I’m glad the [first] letter sparked a conversation, and so many came forward last week.”
Thacker said it is gratifying to see that “the parent community has come together to talk about how the school can better help parents do better. Everyone in the community benefits from that.”