This story is the third

in a six-part series

examining the drug and alcohol use of Miss-Lou teenagers.

VIDALIA &8212; In a group of 10 Vidalia High School seniors, five said they have been the designated driver for a classmate who was too drunk.

The group, three white males, one black male, two black females and four white females, was handpicked by the school counselor because she felt confident they didn&8217;t do drugs but were knowledgeable and honest about the topic.

The news they shared wasn&8217;t uplifting or encouraging.

Like the adults and authorities in the Miss-Lou, they agreed drinking was a bigger problem than drugs, but all said they know drug users.

Drinking is something that starts in eighth- and ninth-grades, they said. Some of the younger kids are hiding it from their parents, but too often, the parents know.

&8220;Some parents say, if y&8217;all are going to do it, come to my house and I&8217;ll get it for you,&8221; one student said.

Of the 10 seniors a few admitted they had tried alcohol before.

There is alcohol at school dances, sometimes bought by the chaperons. But the heaviest drinking happens at weekend parties and out in the country, they said.

&8220;There&8217;s nothing to do in this town,&8221; a senior girl said. &8220;A lot of people say hey, there&8217;s a party, let&8217;s go get drunk.&8221;

And teens drink because other people drink, they said. Guys drink more than girls. And white teens drink more than black teens.

The three black students agreed black teens smoke marijuana more than they drink.

The students also said a lot of teens abuse prescription drugs, pills they often steal from grandparents.

Drug use usually starts in 10th- or 11th-grade, they said, once teens start driving.

And it&8217;s not always the students you expect, they said.

&8220;I know some that get drunk every weekend and make straight As,&8221; one girl said.

But the majority of students abusing alcohol and drugs are not performing well in school, they concluded.

Guidance Counselor Cynthia Smith, who sat in on the discussion with the group&8217;s permission, said before the meeting she knew some teenagers drank and did drugs but said after the discussion she was shocked to hear just how bad it was.

&8220;It&8217;s going to take an effort of those of us who care to stop it,&8221; Smith told the students.

But the students said they didn&8217;t know what the solution was.

&8220;I don&8217;t think you can change it,&8221; one girl said. &8220;It&8217;s up to the person that&8217;s doing it to change it.&8221;

And up to the parents, they agreed.

&8220;The majority of parents know. It&8217;s not a big secret. It&8217;s whether you care,&8221; one girl said.

&8220;Parents could stop us if they wanted to,&8221; another girl said.

Some said when it&8217;s a friend drinking or doing drugs, they&8217;ll say something, but only when it&8217;s a close friend.

&8220;If they don&8217;t care what you think, they&8217;ll just do what they want. You just don&8217;t have a chance,&8221; one student said.

And most drug education in the schools isn&8217;t effective either, they said.

Videos on the consequences of drinking bore the kids who aren&8217;t drinking and make the drinkers laugh, they said.

Statistics don&8217;t work because everyone says, &8220;that&8217;ll never happen to me.&8221;

&8220;In the long run people, will wake up and realize and wish they hadn&8217;t done it,&8221; one girl said. &8220;Most people are just drinking to be cool.&8221;