Fishing Won’t Keep Kids From Getting Hooked Advisory Panel Doesn’t Think After-School Clubs Send Strong Enough Anti-Drug Message

A substance abuse committee plans to challenge the state’s refusal to supply cigarette tax money for a fly-fishing class criticized as not sending students a strong enough anti-drug message.

The state also denied cigarette tax revenues for a ski club, student council and some drama and choir activities planned through Kimberly schools. The state said after-school projects, on their merits alone, do not go far enough to keep students away from drugs and alcohol.

School drug prevention programs are likely to face scrutiny from Idaho lawmakers seeking to spread limited cigarette tax revenues among needy agencies, such as the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections.

The decision on the programs, reached about a month ago, was made by a 24-member state advisory committee which gives schools grants for substance abuse prevention projects.

School district superintendent John Garner defended the school programs, saying that if students take such classes and clubs, they will stay away from drugs.

“We feel we were within the guidelines that were written for the grants and if indeed that is not the intent, the guidelines need to be changed,” Garner said.

The programs would target at-risk students referred by teachers, and classes would be held after school and on weekends in addition to traditional skiing, choir, drama and student council activities, he said.

But others say research increasingly shows that youngsters need more than just a hobby to distract them from peer demands to use alcohol and drugs.

“If you look at athletes, they are probably one of our most active groups and yet they seem to be the group involved with alcohol,” said Patricia Getty, safe and drug-free schools coordinator for the Idaho Department of Education.

Ron Black, R-Twin Falls, said he was saddened by the state’s decision.

Black said fly fishing, unlike many sports, is something teenagers can do alone, away from drug-using peers.

“While it raises some eyebrows, it has a lot of merit,” he said. “I’m a fisherman and that is my best time to get to spend quality time out alone in nature.”