ONE-QUARTER OF STUDENTS SMOKING UP DURING SCHOOL

One in four Nanaimo secondary students is using marijuana while at
school.

That's one of the findings of the second annual Safe Schools Survey
conducted in Nanaimo secondary schools in February 2007. Almost 5,000
students from Grades 8-12 took the survey.

"Our data around drug use for kids is really high," said Robyn Cook,
safe schools coordinator. "Is it surprising? Not really. We know that
it's on the increase but it's not just here."

She said the district's substance use data is similar to reports
across B.C. and Canada, but it is still concerning.

"We need to promote drug and alcohol awareness. Also, we need to start
at a younger age."

While 24 per cent of teens reported using marijuana at school, 40 per
cent reported using it in the community.

Alcohol consumption was much higher in the community, at 72 per cent,
with 21 per cent using at school.

Cook said all survey results are similar to last year.

The survey, developed by the Institute for Safe Schools of B.C., is
intended to provide educators with information to use in developing
future prevention programs.

"We really need to be developing programs for kids in Grades 6 and 7,"
said Cook.

She said the district is looking into its partnerships with the
community.

ADAPT Society recently dissolved but previously provided substance
abuse counsellors part-time to secondary schools.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority is taking over the service, but
has not yet put counsellors back into schools.

Nanaimo RCMP also deliver a prevention program, but Cook said police
are spending less time in schools.

The survey found that more than half of Nanaimo high school students
have experienced verbal bullying and more than one-third have been
physically bullied. Similar numbers of students admitted to being the
perpetrators.

That result spurred the district to proclaim October Safe Schools
Month and embark on new anti-bullying programs and initiatives in
elementary schools last fall.

Cook said while more than 80 per cent of students reported feeling
safe in school, of concern is the 243 students who reported never
feeling safe, 65 per cent of whom were male.

"I think that we need to have those conversations in our staff
rooms."

John Phipps, assistant superintendent of educational programs, said
staff are waiting at least another year before they begin looking for
trends.

"We have about 80 per cent of our kids saying that they can get extra
help from adults. That's a positive, protective factor," he said.

Donna Allen, chairwoman of the district's multicultural and race
relations committee, said attitudes around bullying and harassment
have changed - it is no longer tolerated or seen as normal and
treatment methods have changed.

"I think it's very important that we provide support for the bullier,"
she said. "To me, that's the sort of two pieces to the problem."