Swartz Creek - There's a new law in town aimed at stopping prescription-drug abuse in the schools.

The City Council voted unanimously Monday night to adopt a new ordinance that makes it a criminal misdemeanor to possess or distribute a prescription drug for unlawful purposes.

Police Chief Rick Clolinger proposed the ordinance after difficulties prosecuting recent cases at the high school and middle school, where students were caught selling prescription drugs brought from home.

But the law, which calls for up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine, can be applied anywhere inside city limits.

"I needed to get something done now to close the door," said Clolinger. "I just wish we'd had something in place before this ever happened."

Part of the problem is that current state law doesn't directly address the issue of possessing a non-narcotic drug prescribed to someone else, said City Manager Paul Bueche, who is also a former police chief.

The case at the high school involved Seroquel, a non-narcotic drug used to treat adult schizophrenia. The case at the middle school involved dextroamphetamine, a non-narcotic drug used to treat attention deficit disorder.

Passage of the new ordinance also should speed up the legal process. Cases brought under state law have to be taken to the Genesee County prosecutor's office, which can result in lengthy delays. The high school case, for example, has been pending since December. The local ordinance will allow the city to prosecute such cases directly.

The new ordinance was modeled after the state Public Health Code but is targeted specifically at abuse of prescription drugs. It is not intended to target people picking up prescriptions for others or other lawful handling of prescription drugs.

"This removes any ambiguity so people who distribute or give away the drug are just as guilty as those who possess it," said Bueche.

Gaines Township Trustee Susan Somers said she approved of the ordinance but criticized the city for acting without first consulting neighboring communities that share the Swartz Creek School District.

But Lloyd Swan, chairman of the Clayton Township Planning Commission, praised the action as setting the pace for other communities to follow.

Both officials said they planned to take copies of the ordinance back to their own municipalities for consideration.

Said Swartz Creek Councilman Donald Adams: "It's very seldom we blaze a trail on an issue. Even though this is a city-driven act, it doesn't close the door on working with other municipalities in the future. I think the city's got a clear vision on what needs to be done. We need to move forward."

The ordinance will go into effect 30 days after legal publication.