NUMBER OF STUDENTS INVOLVED WITH DRUGS ON RISE: AFM WORKER

Use of cocaine and ecstasy among younger people, including those who
attend Portage Collegiate Institute, is growing in Portage la Prairie.

"There's a rising concern with the use of cocaine in the younger
population," said Barry Rud, prevention education consultant for
Addictions Foundation of Manitoba.

Brenda Foster works with students at PCI four days a week. The AFM
rehabilitation worker offers services in the form of education and
prevention, accepts referrals for people using or affected by drug
use and conducts assessments for addictions.

She said she has noticed harder drug usage by Portagers, such as
those who attend PCI.

"There is ecstasy and cocaine being used by young people in Portage,"
Foster said yesterday.

She said she couldn't provide information on how many referrals and
drug use assessments have been done, but said they have risen in the
last few years. Foster did say there has been a noticeable increase
in the use of stimulant drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, also known
as MDMA or "E."

"I would say generally, in the community, we're seeing more stimulant
use," Foster said.

She didn't dismiss the severity of the concern, but said there are
other drugs that are a problem for youth.

"Some of the biggest concerns is the amount of alcohol and marijuana
use," said Foster, adding those drugs could lead to other drugs
including a highly addictive stimulant called crystal
methamphetamine. "There's this sweeping cry about (crystal) meth, but
these kids aren't in our schools .... It all starts first with
smoking, and then drinking, marijuana and then mushrooms to ecstasy
to cocaine."

Principal Jim Pehura said this year, the AFM office in the school is
receiving more referrals -- from students, parents or staff referring
students -- than in the past, but he said it's because staff members
are more aware of AFM's program.

The school is a community within the larger community of Portage,
which means drug problems outside PCI's walls can also be found
inside, the principal said.

"It's a reflection of our society," said Pehura.

He couldn't suggest whether drug usage has increased since Portage's
two high schools amalgamated last fall.

Vice-principal Mark Diboll concurred.

"In the amount I deal with kids, I really, truly don't see more (drug
usage)," Diboll said. "However, I don't see a decrease either."

Hazen Barrett, assistant superintendent of Portage School Division,
claims drug use has decreased at the schools during the past two
years, despite the fact there has been only one less suspension handed out.

He said at PCI, 19 suspensions due to drug-related offences -- which
include being caught using drugs or selling drugs -- have occurred to
date. Last year to date, there were 20 occurrences.

He said penalties vary, but in most cases, a first offence results in
a four-day suspension. If a student agrees to attend an addictions
assessment, their suspension could be lessened. However, assessments
are mandatory for a second offence.

Barrett said he's impressed with the way staff are handling
drug-related problems in the high school. Foster is convinced the
education and assessments she gives in the office, as well as
lectures presented in the curriculum are effective.

"There's a lot of stigma in the beginning when the kids don't know
who I am," she said. "But now I have kids trotting into the office
all the time."