POT AND BOOZE MOST COMMON DRUGS OF CHOICE - STUDENTS

Students Tell Region Committee How Easy It Is For Halton Youths To Get
Drugs

Alcohol and marijuana are the most common substances being used by
Halton teens, according to local students.

A group of high school pupils from both north and south Halton told
the Region's health and social services committee about the realities
of teen drug use at its meeting Tuesday.

Grade 12 student Kayla Bulatovich of Oakville said even though there
are a lot of drugs out there, alcohol and marijuana are the biggest
problems in local schools.

"Binge drinking is a normal thing for kids," she said. "We need to
reduce the risks associated with drinking by educating youth about
safe partying."

She noted there are a lot of myths out there about marijuana, like
it's not addictive or harmful.

"Students are making decisions based on misinformation," she said.

Bulatovich added that painkillers are becoming a new trend in student
drug use, while other drugs like ecstasy, ketamine and cocaine
continue to be a concern.

Fellow Grade 12 Oakville student Lindsay Boyce spoke about how easy it
is for Halton youths to get drugs.

"Kids in Halton have lots of money from part-time jobs or parents,"
she said. "And drugs aren't that expensive. A joint is $5, a tab of E
(ecstasy) is $5, and if you buy more from a dealer the price comes down."

She also said some youths are getting drugs at home from their parents
or siblings.

The teens are turning to drugs for a variety of reasons, said Grade 12
student Bianca Nagy, including for fun, to fit in with a certain
group, become more confident and because they don't think anything bad
will happen.

"They don't know the consequences or the long-term effects," she said.

So what's the answer to help steer youths away from drugs?

Grade 11 Georgetown student Marc Stiel said schools need to find ways
to keep youth involved, while parents need to find a balance between
being strict and accepting.

Region staff presented a report to the committee with results from the
2007 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey and the previously released
results from the 2006 Halton Youth Survey.

The report backed up the information presented by the students -- that
alcohol continues to be the drug of choice for most students in Grades
7 to 12, followed by cannabis.

The Ontario survey also revealed that there's been a decrease in the
use of cigarettes, methamphetamine, crack and steroids across the province.

The committee received the report for information purposes.