COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Psychologist Says High School Crack Use Is Old News To Him

Former radio psychologist Dr. Paul Sussman backs a controversial claim that
crack is being smoked daily at Edmonton high schools.

"I'm confused this has even become news. It's pretty common knowledge,"
Sussman said yesterday.

"What I hear from talking to youth addicts and parents of addicts every day
is that drugs, including crack cocaine, are easily available and used in
schools."

His comment comes after a 17-year-old girl was busted by cops in Edmonton on
Wednesday for possession of crack for the purpose of trafficking.

The crack-in-schools debate was sparked after last week's Sunday Sun when
University of Alberta drug-abuse research expert Dr. Louis Pagliaro said the
highly addictive drug is used every day in Edmonton schools.

On Tuesday, the Edmonton Public Schools board of trustees, at its regular
monthly meeting, asked principals, city cops and the Alberta Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Commission whether there was a crack problem in schools.

"The answer was no," said EPS spokesman Victor Tanti. "We are not really
interested in the issue."

Tanti said Dr. Pagliaro and Dr. Sussman only have anecdotal evidence to back
their claims.

Local rock radio station 100.3 FM, The Bear, is to today donate $50,000 to
the city police-sponsored Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program to
tackle crack and violence in schools.

"There obviously is a problem," said Marty Forbes, the station's general
manager.

Sussman, who hosted the Nite Shrink segment for two years on former station
CJCA, said kids won't talk about crack partly because they suffer paranoia.

"They're playing cops and robbers in their heads, they're not going to talk
to anyone about it."

Cocaine Anonymous Edmonton member Paulette said the group sent letters to
high school principals this week asking if the organization could speak with
students about crack and cocaine abuse. They have had no reaction so far.

"I'm pretty sure crack is in schools, but I'm positive speed is," Paulette
said.

"Teachers need to look for kids on crack. The signs are burnt or cracked
lips - because a crack pipe gets extra hot - plus swollen pupils, sweating
and paranoia."

Edmonton Police Service spokesman Annette Bidniak said the city's crack
crisis was getting worse but there have not been any arrests at schools for
crack use.

"The DARE program is a highly successful way of keeping drugs out of
school," she noted.