Meth program for elementary schools gains wider audience

A program on methamphetamine designed to reach elementary students at the third- and fourth-grade levels was the focus of a presentation two Southeast Missouri State University professors made this week at Gov. Bob Holden's methamphetamine summit in Kansas City.

Dr. John Wade and professor Linda Keena were also appointed to serve on the Missouri Methamphetamine Task Force.

The program Wade and Keena presented, Meth Education for Elementary Schools, or MEDFELS, was developed about four years ago. They were invited to help with the program "Life or Meth," which was originally targeted at students age 16 and up in Kansas City and Cape Girardeau.

They later decided to start drug education at the third- and fourth-grade levels and applied for grant money from the multi-agency Midwest High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, the Missouri Department of Public Safety and Southeast Missouri State University.

Wade said the demonstration in Kansas City resulted in a large turnout of people who were unaware of the program despite its earlier success.

"We had people come up afterward from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Missouri School Board Association, the Safe Schools Program," Wade said. "They were thrilled and asked 'Where has this been, why didn't I know it was out there.'"

MEDFELS is designed to complement other drug education programs, such as DARE.

"One of the problems with drug prevention education is that it tends to be a one-time happening," Wade said. "It has to be constant and continuous and complementary."

Wade said the program works because it teaches children cause and effect -- the results of making choices.

"You can't hammer a third-grader on the head with meth," he said. "You have to show them that ingesting something made from anhydrous ammonia, pills and ether is not good for you."

The MEDFELS program illustrates for the children how use of methamphetamine is a choice that not only affects them physically, but it has effects on their families and the community.

Keena will begin teaching a MEDFELS session next week in the Jackson schools, Wade said, and the Kelly School District in Benton, Mo., has asked to have another session at the middle school level. Wade said he hopes more people will take an interest in MEDFELS now that the word is out.

"I told Linda to pack her suitcase; she may be going on the road quite a bit," he said. "We are excited about it."

lredeffer@semissourian.com

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