YOUNG DRUG ARRESTS TROUBLING

FRAMINGHAM -- The pot arrests of two boys at the Cameron Middle School
on Wednesday is a rare occurrence, officials said.

But a community advocate said drug use in children at such a young
age is not unique.

"I do screenings for the drug court, and many of them (users) say
they started at 9," said Margo Deane, executive director of the
Framingham Coalition Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

"I believe it (marijuana) is a gateway drug. It introduces you to a
substance that is illegal."

The two boys, 12 and 13 years old, were arrested Wednesday at the
middle school at 11:40 a.m. School officials contacted police after
they said they discovered the 12-year-old boy had marijuana in his
possession. After he was questioned, police also arrested the
13-year-old, Lt. Vincent Alfano said. The 13-year-old had sold the
drug to the 12-year-old off school property, Alfano said.

Both students were charged with the possession of marijuana, and
released to their parents.

Although marijuana arrests are not unusual in Framingham, Alfano said
the ages of the two involved were.

Cameron Principal Judith Kelly said yesterday the drug arrests were
the first at the school in her three-year tenure as principal. She
said both students will be suspended from school, but would not say
for how long. "It is a different day-and-age than when I was young,"
said Kelly. "The parents were very surprised. We were very surprised,
and chagrined." The Framingham Coalition has conducted a survey about
drug and alcohol use in the middle schools, Deane said. The
tabulations are not complete, but Deane said it appears drug use is
lower in the middle schools than expected. But, Deane said, there
were some disturbing facts discovered. "There are some cases of
severe usage of alcohol and marijuana," said Deane. "I don't know if
it's on the rise, or if it has always been there." Both Deane and
Superintendent Christopher Martes said there efforts are being made to
fight drug use in the middle schools. Deane said the school
department and the coalition received a grant that allows them to put
a counselor in the middle schools. The counselor will look for signs
of abuse in children, and then will do evaluation and recommend
treatment if needed, Deane said.

Also, there is a school resource officer, Kathy McGrath, shared by
the three middle schools, who helps communicate with students, Martes
said. "This was unusual, but we know that in every community there
are drugs," said Martes. "It is a constant source of concern for us."
Although surprised, Framingham School Committee member Laurie Jean
Carroll said drugs in the middle school is something officials should
be concerned about. "I think there has always been some sort of
(marijuana use) at middle schools. There certainly was when I was
that age," said Carroll. "It's definitely a concern, but don't think
it's necessarily the tip of an enormous iceberg." Martes agreed
parents should not think of the schools as a den of drug depravity,
but said drugs are something parents should talk to their kids about.
"I think each parent has to be constantly diligent about all these
things, drugs, alcohol," said Martes. "These kids are 12, 13, 14, 15
- -- I don't care if they're 18 -- they're your kids and you have to
communicate. You have to have open lines of communication, like we
do. It's a responsibility." In the long run, being arrested could be
the best thing for the two youngsters, Deane said.

"It's certainly not pleasant to think about a 12- or 13-year-old
using or selling drugs, but hopefully, when this kind of thing
happens, the intervention is done very early," she said.