Hampden Students Push For Change In Drug Policy

HAMPDEN (NEWS CENTER) -- Students in Hampden say they are fed up with drug use in their schools and community and they are working to do something about it.

Members of the organization, Students Against Destructive Decisions, or SADD, have teamed up with school administrators to rewrite Hampden's drug and alcohol policy.

Students say in the past, the policies have focused on punishing student athletes who use drugs and alcohol. They say the new policy will require all students to be held to the same standards and punishments.

A policy committee comprised of students, faculty, parents and school board members will present the new guidelines Wednesday night at a meeting of the Hampden school board.

Superintendent Rick Lyons admits Hampden has a drug problem, but the district is working with the community and students to address the problems.

Recently, a 44-year-old man, Michael Fortunato of Newburgh was charged with hosting a party and providing drugs and alcohol to students from Hampden Academy. A few days after the party, one of those students, 17-year-old Nathan Clark, was found dead in a local gravel pit.

School officials say students were already in the process of changing school policies before their classmates death.

For the past 8 years students have been participating in Maine Youth Drug and Alcohol Use Surveys, which are conducted by the state's Office of Substance Abuse.

School officials say those studies continue to show disturbing trends in recreational use of marijuana, prescription drugs, and alchol by Hampden middle and high school students.

The 2008 MYDAUS shows the 29.80% of all 9th through 12th grade students admit to drinking alcohol within the past month. Meanwhile 20% admitted to smoking marijuana.

Nearly 18% of students surveyed in Hampden said they've attended a school event or class while under the unfluence of drugs or alcohol.