Operation Save Teens will be presented at 1:30 p.m. at Pike Liberal Arts School and at 6 p.m. at the Claudia Crosby Theater on the campus of Troy State University on Feb. 17.

Lezlie Griffin, AIM public relations coordinator, said the program was first presented in October and made such an impact that it is being brought back by popular demand.

"Operation Save Teens made such a tremendous impact that teens, parents and educators requested that it be presented again," Griffin said.

Operation Save Teems is a dynamic and shocking program that educates teenagers and parents on the ever increasing problem of teenage drug use," Griffin said.

"The program not only informs the audience of the new and popular drugs and their effects, but it also includes the warnings signs of drug use," she said. "According to the Operation Save Teens website, the program is part of a multi-faceted approach in response to Alabama's growing problem with OxyContin and rave drugs. It also deals with existing problems with marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and alcohol"

The speakers for Operation Save Teens are Mike Reese, an agent with the ABC board, and Carol Hudson, mother of a son who overdosed on the drug OxyContin.

Griffin said Operation Save Teens has received outstanding reviews from parents, educators and teenagers throughout the state.

"Dr. Paul Hubbert (executive secretary of the Alabama Education Association) said that it is his belief that Operation Save Teens has the potential to discourage experimentation with drugs among teens," Griffin said. "As a result, the program has a potential to save young lives that might otherwise be waste through drug addiction."

Griffin said teens, parents, educators and anyone interested in today's youths are encouraged to make plans to attend one of the two meetings planned for Feb. 17 in Troy.

Operation Save Teens is being sponsored by the AIM Project and Troy State University. For more information, call 670-5261.