Be honest about the drug problems (Plano, Richardson: home, school district, college)

[CarolAnn64]

I KNOW there are drug problems every where but is there an area that you can say is better at combating it than others? I have read that Plano has a huge drug problem (this did not surprise me) and that McKinney has had it's share.

I am really asking all those HS parents out there what they know about this.

[Spree]

The biggest drug issue (imo) that reaches across all classes of teenagers is alcohol. The harder drugs are there for those that know where to ask. The high schools have a resource officer that talks to the kids about drugs and a unit of drugs and abuse is covered in health class. As far as specific high schools, I don't know. One of the DISD high schools has an info sheet about the new drug cheese on their home page website. Of course, the discipline starts at home.

[BstYet2Be]

Just to forewarn you... do NOT think the drugs are only at the high school level. When we moved here (30 yrs ago), they had a program at school (elementary) that clearly showed that it starts right there. Scared the beegees out of me... but definitely made me aware of what was going on at every grade level from that point on... and how to keep my children out of it (thankfully, it worked!).

Again, this was 30 yrs ago... and in Richardson ISD... which at the time was THE #1 rated ISD in the state! I can only guess that it hasn't gotten better over time and is certainly not limited to any one district, great or not.

Best advice I can give you as a parent... is to stay completely involved in every area of your children's lives... as well as in their schools... and in all programs offered to educate yourself on what is currently going on in your community.

[ladysrodgers]

Originally Posted by CarolAnn64

I KNOW there are drug problems every where but is there an area that you can say is better at combating it than others? I have read that Plano has a huge drug problem (this did not surprise me) and that McKinney has had it's share.

I am really asking all those HS parents out there what they know about this.

Why didn't it surprise you that you read Plano has a huge drug problem? I live in Plano, I don't see any evidense of drugs anywhere I've encountered.

[Spree]

Plano had a big problem in the 90's with kids overdosing on heroin. It's my impression that it's cleaned up, although not totally.

[MurphyPl1]

You really are going to find this at all the area HS. Perhaps the type of drug may vary due to economics, but there's no school that isn't touched by it. Alcohol is definitely a problem, even at the MS levels. But most MS also have the SRO that was mentioned previously.

Plano and McKinney got attention because they were in more affluent areas and people STILL believe that it's only gangsta ghetto kids that do drugs. Sorry, but inattentive, uninvolved parents are not the domain of one or two socio-economic classes.

[BstYet2Be]

Originally Posted by ladysrodgers

Why didn't it surprise you that you read Plano has a huge drug problem? I live in Plano, I don't see any evidense of drugs anywhere I've encountered.

The OP was referring to drugs in high school in Plano. Since you don't have any children in school, you probably would not be aware of it or the history, since you are new to the area as well.

Originally Posted by Spree

Plano had a big problem in the 90's with kids overdosing on heroin. It's my impression that it's cleaned up, although not totally.

Yes, indeed... see these two articles:

Plano, Texas: A Community's Struggle with Drugs - Associated Content

Plano, Texas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[CarolAnn64]

Well....let me clarify a bit.

If you were to post that you were moving to the Chicago suburbs, you would be told that the schools in Naperville, IL are exceptional. Neuqua Valley High School in particular. Academically, athletically, technologically...the are superb. That is THE place to go and if you don't go there, you might wish you did. It is the O.C. of Illinois.

You will find all sorts of information about high percentages of graduates going on to college, high numbers of national merit scholars, heck, they even won a Grammy for best music school in the US.

BUT there is a hidden undercurrent of drugs (particularly cocaine and ecstacy) and mental illness (especially cutting) that is rampant. Maybe it is the pressure, maybe it is the money...but my daughter graduated from there and I would not send my two boys to that school. It IS what you make of it and I understand that but the advantages do not seem to outweigh the drama.

Now..I am a VERY involved parent or I would not be on these board lamenting on finding the appropriate school for my teens. I have read all about the kids in Plano doing heroine or the drug overdoses in Flower Mound and McKinney.

I was looking for someone to say, yes..it is a problem here and/or no, these are fairly isolated incidents. With our close proximity to Mexico and the large amount of drug trafficking in the DFW area, I was hoping to at least find a school that seems to be beating the odds.

[ladysrodgers]

Originally Posted by new2sa

The OP was referring to drugs in high school in Plano. Since you don't have any children in school, you probably would not be aware of it or the history, since you are new to the area as well.

Yes, indeed... see these two articles:

Plano, Texas: A Community's Struggle with Drugs - Associated Content

Plano, Texas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thank you, I'll check those links out. I don't see any "obvious" drug use signs......like I have in other parts of the country.

[rowlett mom]

I believe drugs are in every school. No matter how big or small. Moving to the country will not move you away from it, living in a top notch school district will not protect you either. You absolutely have to stay involved in your kids lives. You have to know what
signs to look for and what kind of friends your children have. While there are certain types of kids that people look at and think, yes they probably experiment with drugs, you can also bet plenty of regular or well thought of students also experiment. Alcohol is a huge problem and if your high school kids attend parties they have been offered alcohol and probably pot. There are plenty of kids who participate in school activities, who attend church, who will also experiment with alcohol and drugs. I believe the wealthier the school district, the more drugs there are available. You have to know your child, if somethings up you will recognize it and nip it in the bud early. We always agreed that if we ever saw evidence of drug or alcohol abuse we would opt to get treatment and help right away. We made sure our kids knew this as well. Thank god we made it through those years and are on the other side now. Kids are soon to be 25 and 22. Both are happy productive adults who realize you can't undo the harm done by drugs and alcohol abuse. They have seen friends lose everything because of mistakes with drugs or alcohol. Don't let your own personal problems get in the way of keeping a close eye on your teens and pre teens. They don't need you to be a friend or look the other way and they won't thank you for it later. I guess what I'm saying is there is no school district that does not have a problem, none, zero, zip. There are of course worse schools than others. If you are in a very wealthy school district, look out.