Sheriff Pohlmann videotapes messages for parish students about not texting and driving or drinking and driving; He and Maj. Clark are also interviewed on the hazards of drug abuse for young people

With an emphasis on helping young people make good decisions, Sheriff James Pohlmann has videotaped messages for parish students about not texting and driving or drinking and driving.

Also, the sheriff and Maj. Chad Clark, commander of Special Investigations which includes the Narcotics Unit, were interviewed for the school system about the hazards of drug abuse among the young.

Messages will soon be running on the broadcast system for parish schools, said Charles Cassar, Drug-Free Schools Coordinator for St. Bernard public schools.

The messages and interviews are being used as a kickoff for the annual Red Ribbon Week in the schools, Oct. 22-26, which emphasis a drug prevention for students as part of an overall message of young people making good decision to help their futures.

The program is under the guidance of Charles Cassar, who interviewed Sheriff Pohlmann and Maj. Clark on drug abuse, especially among the young. They discussed how it starts, what it can lead to and the difficulty of recovery once someone becomes addicted, especially to hard drugs such as heroin or crack cocaine.

Sheriff Pohlmann said in his message on drunk driving, said that in his 29 years in law enforcement he has seen many tragic stories of young people dying in auto accidents because of driving drunk or drugged.

The sheriff said, “It all comes down to people making bad decisions which affect their future, causing death to themselves or others, sadness for families and possibly arrest and jail time.’’

“Instead, work to be a life-saver,” in the community.

Sheriff Pohlmann also said, “You will hear and see many people talking with you about how drug and alcohol abuse will destroy your life and your loved ones,’’ he said. “Please listen to them now during Red Ribbon Week and for the rest of your life.

“Remember … when you become a life-saver, the life you save just may be your own.”

The slogan, “Participate – Be a Life-Saver,’’ is also being used as a theme for groups of St. Bernard parents, school officials, business leaders, the medical community, churches, the judiciary, the Sheriff’s Office, Parish Government and others to band together to commit to a drug-free community.

It is debuting for Red Ribbon Week but will continue afterward.

The group, with input from Dan Schneider, a pharmacist who lost a son years ago to violence related to drug abuse, has adopted a resolution on the importance of parents and other parish residents focusing on trying to reduce as much as possible drug abuse through educational efforts, re-hab treatment for users and prison time for drug-dealers.