SCHOOLS TRY TO GET DRUG MESSAGE TO STUDENTS

While educators in Edmonton deal with allegations of widespread crack use in
high schools, Fort McMurray's education community isn't sounding the alarms
yet. "I think we'd all be fools to say that these types of issues don't
exist, but we haven't had a lot hit the board related to those sorts of
things," public school superintendent John Waddell said.

"From my discussions with the RCMP, drug use in Fort McMurray is high and
that would also be true in the schools or related to school students."

Waddell said when the public board was looking at its drug policy, trustees
wanted to send a clear message that such things wouldn't be tolerated.

"They made it clear that if the board came upon any of that sort of stuff,
they were going to take pretty severe action."

Phil Meagher, vice-principal at Westwood high school, said schools take a
variety of approaches to combatting drug use.

"What we've been doing is just awareness of what drug use can do to you,"
Meagher said. "Most students here have gone through the DARE program and
they know the side effects. It can affect your mental output, it can affect
you physically, it can affect you all around as a citizen."

Meagher added that there are a variety of agencies all working eliminate
drug use in schools. One of those agencies is the Alberta Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Commission (AADAC) . George McBeth, AADAC's area supervisor, said
trying to quantify drug use or categorize it by concentrating on particular
drugs is a waste of time.

"How much or what type is not the issue," McBeth said. "The issue is that
it's there. Drugs is certainly an issue in high schools."

McBeth said society needs a comprehensive plan to deal with the problem.

"This is a community problem and the solution is going to be a community
solution. We all have a part to play."

He said the problem requires a three-pronged approach that begins with
prevention.

"AADAC is involved with a process called community curriculum which is a
number of agencies that have gotten together to discuss a number of issues
at different grades," he said.

"We're all beginning to address the same types of issues whether it's
alcohol and drugs, interpersonal relationships, or suicide prevention; all
kinds of issues that are affecting children today."

Following prevention, McBeth said intervention and treatment are equally
important.

"But once we've identified children who have specific needs, how do we
provide the most effective treatment? We have to do all three.

"We have to stop tolerating it and we have to stop pretending that it's not
happening."

One group with no illusions is the RCMP drug unit.

"I've been in the drug section for the last four years and in the last two
years, crack cocaine has been the drug of choice in Fort McMurray," Const.
Irv Heide said.

"It's definitely sought after more than powder cocaine or even marijuana in
our experiences."

Heide said the RCMP had undertaken an undercover operation some time ago
which resulted in a couple of young offenders being arrested and charged.

He also said warrants went out in the fall for some other young offenders
that were dealing in crack cocaine. Nevertheless, Heide said the RCMP don't
believe crack cocaine to be a substantial problem in McMurray's high
schools.

"That's not to say that it isn't being used," he cautioned.

"We're not that naive to think that it isn't in the schools, but it isn't an
epidemic in our eyes at this point."

Heide based his statement on arrest rates for drug possession and other
crimes like thefts which often indicate drug problems as addicts need to
feed their habit.

"In Edmonton you could pay as low a $5 for a hit; that's probably a puff or
two. Regardless of how little you use, it is addictive almost immediately."

One in 10 users of crack cocaine become addicted after their first use. The
highly addictive nature of the drug forces people to return for more.

"That's the objective of the dealer. Now it costs money and that money is
not readily available to younger groups. That's when they resort to other
crime such as robberies, break and enters, or thefts," Heide said.