DRUG-FREE ZONES QUESTIONED

The drug-free zone signs have been up around Mission's three secondary
schools for more than a week, but one school board trustee says
criminalization may not be the best way to help people with drug dependency
problems.

After hearing details on Mission's newly created drug-free zones -
two-block radius areas around schools with zero tolerance for drug use -
trustee John Green said he was worried the students had rushed into it
without proper information.

"Let's weigh in with some statistics. Alcohol abuse causes more damage to
our students than drugs ever will," said Green.

Mission RCMP initially approached school staff and then the student
representatives with the idea of setting up zones where people caught in
possession of illegal drugs would be met with stiffer penalties.

The student reps then took the issue to their classmates, who voted in
favour of the program. Seventeen signs went up last week around Hatzic,
Mission and Heritage Park secondary schools.

But at last week's meeting, Green said he didn't think the students were
given enough time to go over the proposal.

"I don't know whether that shows a lot of research has been done. I think
we kind of duped our kids," said Green.

According to RCMP school liaison officer Const. Laurel Klassen, the amount
of time students had between being introduced to the program and voting on
it varied from school to school.

Some schools voted immediately, while others were given nearly a week, but
in all three cases, Klassen said a majority of the students supported it.

In his own research, Green said he's found studies that show anti-drug
campaigns do more to encourage rather than curb drug use.

But trustee Shelley Clarkson said she welcomes any measures that will make
it harder for dealers to operate in the area.

"If this will prevent the dealer from getting a foothold around our
schools, I'm quite happy with that," said Clarkson.