Fifth- and sixth-grade students in Salt Lake School District are hearing an anti-drug-abuse message through POTS - Probation Officers Talk Sense.
The program was developed by Brad Bassi, supervisor of the probation office of Salt Lake's Juvenile Court. He was concerned that drug and alcohol abuse are no longer primarily in the intermediate and high school levels but are apparent now at elementary schools.The program takes a positive approach, concentrating on trust, positive and negative peer group pressure, decision-making and being in control of one's own life.
POTS has received an enthusiastic response from children and parents, he said. About 500 students in schools in Salt Lake, Bountiful and Riverton have participated.