DRUG, ALCOHOL USE IN SCHOOLS

Officials Say Not A Problem, Students Disagree

School officials say that drug and alcohol use doesn't appear to be evident
at local schools. But many kids are saying there is a problem.

Saugeen District Secondary School's community council has planned a
substance abuse information night for the public on Apr. 24 at 7 p.m. at
SDSS to address the issue. Dave Roy from Choices in Owen Sound will be the
guest speaker.

The purpose of the evening is to educate people about such issues before
they escalate.

"We thought we would hold the evening to make the community a little more
aware of the problem and tell them how they could recognize it," said
council chair Helen Grant. "The evening is planned to tell people how it
affects a family and the community and ways we can deal with it."

Principals at the local public schools haven't see the problem surface yet.
"I can truthfully say it has not been an issue," said Port Elgin Saugeen
Central School principal Christine Irving.

Irving said the school tries to prevent the use of drugs and alcohol before
it starts. It has various guidance programs for all grades including the
Grade 6 Values Influences and Peers (VIP) program that deals with the issue.

Doug Goar, principal at G.C Huston Public School in Southampton is thankful
the issue has not been evident at his school.

"I feel we have a pretty good prevention program," said Goar. "We spend a
lot of time talking with students about peer pressure."

At Northport Elementary School it hasn't been an issue either. "It hasn't
been a problem at this school," said principal Susan Sanke. "As far as
anyone asking questions about it, I haven't had any calls from parents."

Linda Yenssen, a public health nurse in the injury prevention program with
the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Health Unit, said over the past five months she
has been receiving more calls from concerned parents about drug and alcohol
use.

"I am getting more calls about drug use than I used to get," said Yenssen.
"Even if you keep your ears open in the community you hear more people
discussing it than you used to."

A 1996-97 Ontario Health Survey revealed that binge drinking among youth
aged 12 to 19 in Bruce County is significantly higher than the provincial
average. Sixty-two per cent of youth in Bruce County had admitted to binge
drinking while the Ontario average was 45 per cent.

The misuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs has also been on the
rise. These drugs include barbiturates, stimulants, codeine and morphine
"In recent years police and school personnel have reported an increase in
this type of use among youth," said Yenssen.

A recent survey of Ontario youth has seen an increased use of other drugs
as well. A Centre for Addiction and Mental Health survey found that
marijuana use among Ontario males age 12 to 19 has increased from 25.7 per
cent in 1997 to 32.5 per cent in 1999.

Ecstacy use among Ontario youth had risen from .6 per cent in 1993 to 4.8
per cent in 1999.

Yenssen said marijuana is a drug that has always been prevalent in the
area, but others such as Ecstacy and other rape drugs are showing up locally.

"I am getting more calls from concerned parents who are becoming more aware
that it is around," said Yenssen. "People may hear in the news about a bust
at a high school and it causes concern."

Yenssen said alcohol and drug use among younger children is becoming more
common as well.

A program that recently ran in local schools encouraging children to make
the right decisions and stay away from drug and alcohol use was given to
students from Grade 5 to 8.

"We felt that was the age where we really need to make a stand," said
Yenssen. "It is an age where many kids start experimenting with drugs and
alcohol."

The health unit also has programs at the high school level and is about to
launch a program for parents.

"We try to hit all the age levels of kids," said Yenssen. "Our hope is that
we make an impact somewhere along the way."

Saugeen Shores Police Chief Paul Brown said they are aware there are lots
of drugs on the streets, but isn't sure it is any more of a problem among
youth than it has been in the past. "We hear it is getting worse, but I
can't say we are experiencing that," said Brown. "Kids are definitely more
street wise at an earlier age. I think kids are probably experimenting at a
younger age, but it is probably a small minority."

A new initiative by the health unit will help parents better understand the
seriousness of drug and alcohol abuse among youth.

The health unit's "Taxi Parent" program teaches parents that talking to
their kids about alcohol and other drugs makes a difference.

The program will be launched May 7 in conjunction with a drug abuse seminar
by Barbara Coloroso at Sacred Heart High School in Walkerton. Coloroso is
an internationally recognized speaker in the areas of parenting, teaching
positive school climate and non-violent conflict resolution.