Drug+Stoppers

Essential Question: How much widespread drug usage is in Bergen County?

Challenges: How to prevent drug usage in Bergen County.

Guiding Questions: -Should police have the right to have people spy on others and report to them if they are doing or selling drugs? -At high school, should the police and faculty members have the right to search your locker, backpacks, and other belongings for drugs? -Can police search businesses or companies for any drug trafficking or smuggling? -Can search warrants, K-9 Units, and random checks be allowed in any public building?

Guiding Activities -Interview with Cavanagh, Mrs. Grier, Mr. Fallon or other officers -Interview random people who we know use drugs. -Carnival activities about why drugs are bad for kids.

Survey Questions 1. Do you know someone that uses drugs? (yes out of/amount of people in group asked) A: 13/13, 5/5, 8/8, 4/4, 18/18, 30/30 2. Do you believe any awareness programs such as D.A.R.E, actually help prevent drug use? A: 0/13, 0/5, 0/8, 3/18, 2/30 3. Do you believe there is a drug problem in our area? A: 5/13, 5/5, 8/8, 4/4, 14/18, 30/30

Totals Question 1: 74/74 said yes to knowing someone that uses drugs Question 2: 5/74 said yes to believing that awareness programs help prevent drug use Question 3: 62/74 said yes to believing that there is a drug problem in our area

Solution/Action

There are many ways to prevent drug use from happening in Bergen County. Kids at school are given backpack and locker checks. Police can use a specific kind of light on students to indicate if they have done drugs or drank alcohol by shining it in their mouths. To teach children about the dangers of drugs we can have the town set up carnival games for kids. These games talk about drugs and why they are bad for children and young adults. The carnival/fair will increase awareness and prevention.

Another way that we can provide aid is to recommend students/adults to drug treamtment centers throughout the county, such as //A Program of Children’s Aid and Family Services//, which is located in Hackensack, NJ. Towns can set up sufficient drug and alcohol treatment centers where they are needed the most. This action would help drug addicts take one big step towards recovery.

Finally, we can arrest people who sell or produce drugs, such as pharmacists, drug dealers, drug lords, and even gangsters. If someone is issuing illegal prescriptions, he/she should be fined, locked up for about 20 years (or punishment decided by the court of law), and lose their professional license. Some people think that the severity of the drug crime should depend on the amount of drugs that were involved. To make sure that drugs don't reach any kids or students, the police should patrol any areas that are 1,000 feet away from a public school. Even if there are non-violent drug offenders in prison, a good thing to do for them would be to transfer them from prisons and into treatment programs.

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