Last week, the Albert Lea Police Department conducted a lockdown at Albert Lea High School. The results, police said, were three citations: one for the possession of drug paraphernalia, one for possession of a small amount of marijuana and one for possession of tobacco.

We had heard rumors on social media that more than a dozen students were cited.

Though we found out this was untrue, we are disappointed, nonetheless, in the choices of the students who were cited and for the ongoing influence of drugs on our youth.

Police stated a K-9 responded as part of the lockdown and also alerted authorities to the scent of drugs on several vehicles. Though police did not find drugs in many of these vehicles, it still raises concerns that there may have been drugs in the vehicles at some time prior.

Drugs are affecting our youth.

According to the Minnesota Student Survey results, Freeborn County students are self-reporting substance abuse as young as 10 years of age.

Youth may start using alcohol and other drugs for a variety of reasons, but it is our job now to educate ourselves and our children on the effects of drug use and on what problems it can lead to in the future.

These youth need to look beyond the present and into the future. They need to look at the long-term effects drugs have on individuals, families and communities. It may be hard for them to see it now, but drug use can affect jobs. It can affect relationships. And it can affect their health.

Kudos to the Police Department and other community organizations who are helping raise awareness about youth drug use. It is happening in our community, and we must come together to enact change.