Between You andMe By RUTH COLES Doubt 'tili thou canat doubt no more - doubt Is thougbt and thought is li1e. Systems wblch end in doubt are devices for drugging tbought. Albert Guerard. A story about a small boy, his parents and thefr angulsh and pain over the past five years. In tbe telng bis m other, a friend of mine, hopes it may help otber parents find tbe truth before it is too late. Before the age of ten a normal boy, well behaved and mischieveous, a natural way for many boys and flot a concern for the parents. Suddenly he became very difficuit and bard to handie. Ris school work deterlorated rapidly and bis teachers feit tbey ad a bad, rotten kid on their hands. Ris mother, who bad been in the medical field for some years, was totally puzzled and had no idea of the problem. At times the question of drugs crossed her mmnd but because of his age she feit this would be hardly likely. She did watch bis eyes for signs of drugtakilg but saw nothing. At tbis point they sougbt professional help, which over some time turned out to be. fruitiess. As bis mother said, "'it was like giving a drowning person a drink of water. P Their salvation came tbrougb the Durbam Youth Bureau. Detective Winter and P.C. Temple were of immense help and very importantly, kind and thoughtfui. To bave help and support at a time like this is imperative. The boy's mother bad been very ill'but was on the road to recovery after much determination thatabhe would become well again. No doubt the age factor prevented clear ýtbinking on everyone's part. Drugs at ten! Tbey just did flot take this into account. I exelude tbe police at tbis point as I'm sure they would dlue i immediately af-. ter ail tbe experience they bave bad. At eleven there was contact with tbe police as he was caugbt smoking. and be was takerrto court and given a rap on tbe knuckles, no doubt because of.bis extreme youth. Later he was picked up with a sup- ply of bash oil. At a court appearance he was sen- tenced to a training, sebool to be belped and to protect other children. Hie was blatant and unrepentant. Ris mother bad asked him some time before this about drugs but he bad denied everything. Tbe next four montbs or so were spent i school witb proper supervision. When hewas ten he bad two or three chums bis mother worried about and felt tbey were most undesirable. An older boy joined the group, probably about f11- teen, and a holy terror. Tbese cbildren came from good bomes and were. welI cared for as far as we know. This is sometbln ail parents must be concerned about. Children ýat an early age bave to discriminate and this bas to be taught by the paren- ts. We are not born equal. Standards and moral values differ in- various families and, these are things often banded down to the children. Little ones mimie easily and in tbe case of older children they often find it daring and exciting to be with others wbo bave more freedom or are allowed to act up. Bad habits such as poor table manners, coarse have concernsaÎd worries , often from a young age. It could. be their school work, tbeir lack of friends, their appearance, any number of things. Most of tbem take it in their stride, and learn it is a part of 111e and i time they wiIl outgrow a good numbor of tbeir problems. y Where do the much needed dollars come from? Often from mother as in this case but not from father. When you tbin there isn't as much money fni yor pureo wailet as you bad thougbt wbat do you think? Did you lose it, spend it or mislay it? Could ycu ask yourself if you're child stole it? Others break and enter wherever they thik they can Put their banda on some cash. When money Just can't be found tbey wheel and deal or as they say "trade". A go-between, a dealer and a buyer; this geeal ae lc n ako oescue Place where there are no onlookers. Junkies pay off snd this l how this boy was able ta maintain bis habit by beng pad n soft drugs rather than cash. "Catch a buzz"', a frequently used term. This boy kept bis "1things"' in a locked box and always carrled the key on bis person. Hiis mother as she became more aware was able to learn more and more and at one time plcked the lock on this box and found lots of evidnce. The contents can be cigarette papers, vials, bash oil, grass, small clay pipes. Toke bottles with screw on cap, bail bearlngs used as plugs and more we won't say. This is not a recipe for drug, users. The golng rate seems to be $15 or $30 for a purchase. To school for about four montha and a return to bis home and a school in the community. They said he was ready but bis mother and bis own case worker dldn't feel he was ready. Tbey were rlgbt., At first ail was well, be bebaved, was considerate and tboughtful. Not to last for long. Peer pressure came next. Friendsý phoned hlm and his mother could bear hlm saylng, "no 1 can't" and 80, on but It proved, to be too mucb for hlm and thia time he tur- ned ta ilquor. Apparently some schools are known for eitber liquor or, drugs - community schools WHITBY FR EE PRESS, WEONESDAY APRI L 6 1983,,PAGE il around the country. He didn't keep liquor in the house. He was caught one weekend with tbree very young girls walking from one party to another, drunk. That nigbt 1 think he stayed witb a friend. Where were those parents? And so he blew it. This meant back to school. When he is released be will no doubt go to a group home *under the jurisdiction of the school. And we are letting this go on, drugs and liquor? I mean the population at large, the schools, the police who no doubt do their best and ail of us. There ia muclh lesa media coverage these days but wby? Ia there less of it or la it a worn out tired subject? For anyone who la concerned, upset and worried about their offsprig remembor the Youth Bureau. This could bo the child's salvation and yours. The number la '579-1520, local 275. My husband and I talked with Detective Wlnter for some time and we were most impressed. Fair and open I would ask for bis advice anytime. To parents he says, "Be there wben you are needed." DANCE St. Theresa's Parent Advisory Council wil present a 'Hat Dance' Saturday, April 9, ln the gymanasium of Denis O'Connor 111gb Scbool, Giffard St., from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Disc jockey, prize for best bat, bar and midnigbt snack. ickets are $15 per couple and are available by calfing Maureen Keo- gan 728-4810, Kathy Hyatt 668-0337 or Mary Scott 571-3356.> I