POLAND 2 boys face drug charges

Officials say the drug and alcohol abuse problem is not unique to Poland.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- Township police have filed felony drug charges against two Poland Seminary High School ninth-graders in the sale of the prescription drug OxyContin.
Police charged Robert Jeffrey Raybuck, 15, of Struthers Road with aggravated trafficking. They charged Mark David Morocco, 15, of Island Drive with drug abuse. Both boys have been released to their parents.
Police reports say Raybuck and Morocco discussed the sale of an OxyContin pill in the school cafeteria Thursday. The next day Raybuck sold a small yellow OxyContin pill to Morocco for $20, according to the reports.
Witness reports it
A witness told school officials Morocco discussed the pill and showed it to another student.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Zorn said that it is not clear how many sales have been made but that school officials now think the activity may have been going on for about three months. He said Raybuck took the OxyContin from home without the knowledge of his parents.
In September 2003, village police also issued Raybuck a summons to appear in county juvenile court on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and a minor misdemeanor citation charging possession of marijuana.
Reports say Raybuck was found with marijuana in a playground behind Union Elementary School.
Zorn said drug and alcohol abuse are a big concern at any high school. He said he thinks Poland has no bigger problem than any other high school.
Struthers police arrested 18 Poland High School students Saturday at a party where alcohol and suspected marijuana were found. The students range in age from 15 to 18.
Arrested twice in a day
One of the students, Daniel McGarry, 18, of Center Road, Lowellville, was charged with driving under the influence at 3 a.m. Saturday morning -- hours before the party.
Police reports said he was observed driving left of center and jerking the car on U.S. Route 224. His breath-analysis test registered 0.122. The legal limit is 0.08 for adults and 0.02 for those under 21.
In 2001, township police launched an investigation into drug activity at the high school and arrested six students, charging them with use or distribution of the prescription drug Xanax, a medication for anxiety disorders, and OxyContin.
"Not making any excuses, but in American high schools today, drug abuse is always a concern," said Zorn. "We have to stay on top of this. It is an ongoing concern we have, and we will stay on top of it."
Zero tolerance
Zorn said the school board will adhere to its zero-tolerance policy on the distribution of illegal drugs. Raybuck, he said, will likely be expelled as of Friday. The expulsion would probably mean Raybuck would fail the ninth grade.
"If you get caught in the sale or distribution of drugs, you get expelled. The policy is very specific," the superintendent said.
The policy, Zorn said, is different for students using drugs, however.
Suspension, counseling
Zorn said Morocco will be suspended. He did not say when the boy will be allowed to return. He said students using drugs typically are suspended for 10 days and required to get drug counseling.
Police Sgt. Gary Abeid said police do not expect additional arrests with the latest OxyContin episode.
Abeid said it should be noted that students tipped off police and school officials about the OxyContin. That, he said, shows that many students do not accept the behavior and are standing up against it.
jgoodwin@vindy.com