Wiscasset Police Chief Troy Cline is seeing the start of a change in students' reaction when he stops by Wiscasset High School, in the weeks since a highly attended parent night broke the ice on discussing drug issues.

He still gets looks that tell him students think he must be working a case, but just their increased openness to talk is encouraging, and he wants to build on it.

Principal Deb Taylor has observed a clear change in students since the January 22 parent night, she said at a follow-up one, held in the school library February 12.

“They're feeling better about the school climate,” Taylor said about students. “They're feeling more hopeful.”

Some parents said they're seeing that same difference in their teenagers. At the latest meeting, they, Cline, Taylor and others talked about ways to keep the momentum going.

Cline said he would be more than happy to work with the fire department and ambulance service on planning a mock event for the school, to show the harm substance abuse can cause.

Counselors could help any students who become upset during the exercise, he said.

“The fact of the matter is, it's supposed to shock kids. It's supposed to make them realize that life is precious, that it's not to be thought about as, 'I'm going to just do what I want.'

“Is it better for them to see that in a training arena versus a real world, 'This is your friend, lying on the concrete there (with) blood all over them?'”

Parents voiced support for the exercise and other ideas participants floated, including assemblies on the impact of substance abuse; and trips outside Wiscasset to help students better appreciate life in their town.

Parent Greg Wood suggested a paid, local, eight-week summer work-study program for students, to fend off boredom, build work skills and self-esteem, and give them an inside look at how the town functions. They could work at departments including the transfer station and parks and recreation, he said.

He estimated program costs at about $25,000.

“I don't want to hear that the town doesn't have the money .... That's not much money,” Wood said.

In March, the high school will host the Lincoln County Sheriff's training series, “Is My Kid High,” which covers substance impairment's signs, household items that get misused as inhalants, and other topics, said Lisa Henry, a social worker in Wiscasset's schools.

Parents from both the high school and middle school will be invited, Henry said.

Parents should start cautioning their children about substances well before high school, because problems sometimes occur earlier than they used to, even around fourth or fifth grade, according to Cline. “It's unfortunate, but that's the way society is going,” he said.

“Start talking to your kids a lot younger,” he told parents.

Turnout for the February 12 meeting was just under half the attendance of about 80 parents for the first one. But Taylor remained pleased by the numbers and the increased contact parents have had with her office in recent weeks.

Taylor has created a survey for the high school's parents, students and staff, to help guide her on proposing any school policy changes. Some parents at the January 22 meeting said they would like consequences strengthened for violations by student athletes.

Early survey results show a consistent lean toward having greater consequences for violations regarding drugs and alcohol, than for other issues like unsportsmanlike conduct; and having increased consequences for repeated violations, Taylor said in an interview February 13.

Taylor told parents February 12 she hopes more students take the survey. About 13 have taken it, out of 59 surveys completed so far, she said.

Cline reminded parents that he will need their support in his efforts to get a school resource officer funded in his next budget.

While the progress is noticeable, the student drug issues didn't happen overnight and will take time to work on, the chief said. “A select few (students) are saying, 'We can get it by you' and are looking down their noses at Deb and myself, thinking they can beat the system,” he said.

Part of the problem is before-school use, Cline said. “They're getting high, they're getting stoned before they come to school.”

Cline encouraged parents to grill their teens about suspected drug use, and to test them for it. Pharmacies sell the tests, which detect marijuana and other drugs of choice, officials said.

“We're going to have to get this ship righted again,” Cline said.

“I applaud you for showing up, because that speaks volumes about this community,” he told parents.

Related: Wiscasset High School addresses substance abuse