SCHOOLS DESIGNATED DRUG FREE ZONES

Drug dealers with a tendency for hanging around elementary schools
have been put on official notice.

Stay away from the kids.

"If people are selling drugs in school zones, be prepared to face
bigger consequences," said Const. Tim Lyons of the 100 Mile House RCMP.

"It is notification that if you're found within those zones, we are
going to be using the full measure that we can employ against you."

To combat this societal plague, the Cariboo Regional District and
School District 27 have combined forces to designate a segment of land
in Lac la Hache as a Drug Free Zone.

The zone encompasses lands between Highway 97 in the south, Timothy
Lake Road to the east, the arena in the north and the open field to
the west of Lac la Hache Elementary.

The new zone complements drug free designations at both 100 Mile and
Mile 108 Elementary Schools.

"Kids are far too trusting and these people are preying upon our
youth," said Lyons.

"And it's not always what it seems because a lot of the times simple
marijuana could be laced with something else."

The peace officer said the three schools will have Drug Free Zone
signs installed at different locations around each facility within
short order.

"Curiosity is something that kids always have and I just think in
today's day and age, simple experimentation isn't like it used to be,"
added Lyons, referring to the proliferation of synthetic drugs such as
crystal meth and ecstasy.

"They are so much more used, than they used to be just a few years ago
because they're cheap to make and cheap to sell and there's more of
them."

Should you have questions, concerns or information regarding
enforcement of specified Drug Free Zones or are witness to activities
in violation of these specified boundaries, don't hesitate to contact
Cst. Lyons.