August 29th, 2007 by Ann Walker

Sending your out of control teen to a military teen boot camp or brat camp is not an easy decision. For most parents it is preceded by months of anguished worry. The teen who is dispatched to camp often responds with very hurtful vitriol, accusing the parent of cruelty and threatening to run when they get out.

The parent below is one of a group of parents of at-risk teens who are networking via a website that they created to help officials and each other fight back against drugs, drug dealers, and parents who don’t seem to care.

“My son 15 year old son is in Utah getting treatment. I had to make the hardest decision of my life to send him away in the wee hours of the night by escort. wow what a blow to both of us. Him for not thinking i would follow through with my threats. For me for doing it and knowing i would have no communication for at least 30 days.

I have contacted the Tustin police department and have had some good conversation with the narcotics detective. He is more than eager to talk with us to give us insight, assistance, direction on what else we can do to get this problem under control and help our kids.

If any kid out there know of a guy named Larry who may be one of our potential ADULT (23yrs) dealer to our kids. Let the PD know anything. They are ther to help us. I gave them numbers from my sons cell phone of people who were texting the sale of drugs. I hope they can track someone down.

Parents lets continue to talk, email, communicate to each other in any way we can…”

Parents fighting drugs ready for back to school

Support network meeting with principals

Students aren't the only ones getting ready for going back to school; parents are, too.

Parent Team, a communication and support network fighting drugs, has been busy printing fliers, creating decals and preparing for meetings with principals across the school district.

Lynn Knee, who started the Web-based network for parents, says members continue to join weekly and they have ideas for the upcoming school year.

The Parent Team has been meeting regularly and has created a large poster showing the "teen network," a list of more then 200 names showing who is connected to whom.

"It helped give (the parents) a snapshot of what's going on with their children," Knee said.

Since the team's first meeting in early July, the group has expanded to include Irvine and has grown to about 70 active members.

Parents continue to share information with each other about suspicious behavior and possible drug dealers, but have moved most of their content off of the Parent Team Web site and into a private e-mail list.

Parents are still reporting information to the Tustin Police Department and have begun to report any information to the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

In 2006, Tustin reported 74 juvenile drug-related arrests and 810 total drug arrests. Between January and July of this year, there were 46 juvenile drug arrests and 487 total arrests.

Church groups have contacted Knee expressing interest to become involved with the movement, which she describes as a neighborhood watch program.

"It takes a village to raise a child and let's be that little Tustin village that keeps those freaking drugs away from them," she said.

For more information on the Tustin Parent Team, visit www.xanga.com/parentteam.

Contact the writer: 949-553-2918 or etorres@ocregister.com