Although some SADD chapters have drinking and driving contracts between members and their parents, DeKalb High School’s chapter does not. “The contracts don’t seem to strike the right note with the kids,” Pasteris said. “They want to handle this on their own.”

However, Pasteris said he thinks the SADD members should sign contracts with their parents. “I think the parents need to be involved. The contracts are a good vehicle to use to open up the issue about alcohol use,” he said.

Pasteris said he also would like to see an assertiveness training program developed for younger students, such as seventh and eighth graders. The program would teach students to be more assertive when dealing with alcohol and drug problems, he said.

Last year, SADD sponsored a countywide-DUI day in which a demonstration of a DUI arrest was conducted, Pasteris said. He said the day enabled SADD members from different schools throughout the county to meet each other.

Pasteris said the only problem with SADD is that it only emphasizes abstinence from drinking when driving. However, he said that in the health classes at DeKalb High School, instructors try to teach the students about the entire issue of alcohol abuse.

The DeKalb Police Department also offers DUI clinics which are available to any interested group of citizens, such as schools, civic organizations, university clubs, fraternities and sororities, DeKalb Police Detective Bill Feithen said.