ASHLAND — Ashland County Prosecutor Chris Tunnell is always looking for state-approved ways to allocate money collected from drug busts and drug-related confiscations in Ashland County.
So when Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center’s (ACWHCC) newly-formed Drug Free Club came to his attention, he decided to donate $3,000 of drug seizure monies to help with the new organization’s start-up costs.
“Our focus is on taking away drug dealers’ means to traffic – their car, their cell phone, and their cash,” Tunnell said.
That philosophy leads to Ashland County collecting a cache of drug-related money in a “seizure account.” The State of Ohio puts limits on how the money can be spent and of those approved ways, Tunnell admits he is a bit partial to worthy activities that address drug abuse prevention.
According to ACWHCC Assistant Principal John Davis, the new club is a step in addressing the concerns of local employers as they find more and more current and potential workers often cannot pass a drug test.
Given the school’s close ties to local business and industry and the district’s increasing focus on “soft” work skills needed in the workplace – e.g. good work attendance, being at work on time, being drug-free, the ability to work with others, etc. – school administrators began last year to search for ways to get ahead of the problem.
Last spring they chose the Drug Free Clubs of America (DFCA) and a presentation about the new club was what drew Tunnell to them.
Becoming a DFCA member is simple: a student who passes a parent-approved, confidential drug test may become an official card-carrying club member who can enjoy rewards in the form of special deals, perks, and privileges. Because of the club’s random drug testing policy, it also serves as an “out,” an answer to the “Why not?” question when students are invited to try drugs – e.g. “Sorry, I can’t because I might be (drug) tested.”
The club aims to draw students away from bad influences and toward other like-minded drug-free students.
“We think this is a win-win for everyone,” Davis said. “Students learn to make better choices and are better prepared for the world of work and employers have a bigger pool of potential drug-free employees. We are grateful to Prosecutor Tunnell for the county’s generous donation.”
