Law enforcement members are taking over Benton County classrooms this month, hoping to stop the spread of meth abuse.
October is Methamphetamine Awareness Month, and school resource officers are spending time with sixth and ninth grade students to show the effects of the dangerous drug.
Officer Michael Elkins of the Rogers Police Department taught two classes about the drug at Oakdale Middle School on Wednesday.
"Who's heard of crank?" He asked the class. "How about speed?"
Elkins says the program is a collaboration between police departments, the Benton County Methamphetamine Task Force and the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce.
"We make sure there's an awareness out there of the danger and the prevalence of meth," he says. "We take that time to get the word out to all the schools. It's something that is very real to them. Maybe not meth, but drugs in general, it is very real to them and it's something they face."
Elkins told the kids 75 percent of the crime here is meth-related.
"It's really surprising," says 6th grader Nick Fletcher. "A lot of people do meth."
The officer says it's important to get the word out, and the earlier the better.
"They're at an impressionable age right now," he says. "It's important to make sure that they've got the information to not take the risk and not use drugs."
Elkins doesn't ask the kids to take his word for it. His presentation includes graphic images of meth's effects on users.
"It puts a real feel to it... more than just me saying this is what happens," he says. "It puts something tangible that the kids can put their eyes on and relate to."
"They picked at their arms and took away chunks of skin," Fletcher says. "Some of them were really brutal."
The classes continue at different schools all month, and Elkins hopes the kids take the knowledge to heart, and put it to use if they come in contact with the drug.
"It's important to make sure that they've got the information," he says. "The drug is just something that dangerous."
October is Methamphetamine Awareness Month, and school resource officers are spending time with sixth and ninth grade students to show the effects of the dangerous drug.
Officer Michael Elkins of the Rogers Police Department taught two classes about the drug at Oakdale Middle School on Wednesday.
"Who's heard of crank?" He asked the class. "How about speed?"
Elkins says the program is a collaboration between police departments, the Benton County Methamphetamine Task Force and the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce.
"We make sure there's an awareness out there of the danger and the prevalence of meth," he says. "We take that time to get the word out to all the schools. It's something that is very real to them. Maybe not meth, but drugs in general, it is very real to them and it's something they face."
Elkins told the kids 75 percent of the crime here is meth-related.
"It's really surprising," says 6th grader Nick Fletcher. "A lot of people do meth."
The officer says it's important to get the word out, and the earlier the better.
"They're at an impressionable age right now," he says. "It's important to make sure that they've got the information to not take the risk and not use drugs."
Elkins doesn't ask the kids to take his word for it. His presentation includes graphic images of meth's effects on users.
"It puts a real feel to it... more than just me saying this is what happens," he says. "It puts something tangible that the kids can put their eyes on and relate to."
"They picked at their arms and took away chunks of skin," Fletcher says. "Some of them were really brutal."
The classes continue at different schools all month, and Elkins hopes the kids take the knowledge to heart, and put it to use if they come in contact with the drug.
"It's important to make sure that they've got the information," he says. "The drug is just something that dangerous."
