RANKIN MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT CAUGHT WITH DOPE

Police And School Staff Plan To Step Up Drug Awareness Campaign

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

A most unwelcome guest made an appearance in a Rankin Inlet middle school
earlier this month.

A young female student was discovered to be in possession of marijuana at
Simon Alaittuq school by a staff member.

No charges were laid in the matter, with authorities opting to deal with
the situation away from the courts.

Principal Bev Hill said, in a prepared statement, staff members at the
school are providing students with factual information on the dangers
associated with drug use, and how to deal with peer pressure and drug use.

"Parents and the local District Education Authority are supportive of this
approach," said Hill.

Sgt. Gavin Nash of the Rankin detachment of the RCMP said police are not
sure how the student obtained the weed, but there was no indication she
was involved in trafficking the substance.

He said the student was disciplined by the school, and the detachment's
DARE officer, Const. Eric Toovak, will be speaking to the Grade 6 class.

"That doesn't mean this was a Grade 6 student," said Nash.

"It simply means DARE is aimed more at the Grade 6 class.

"This came as a surprise because you don't expect to find a kid that young
carrying a controlled substance into the school.

"We're hoping it's an isolated incident and, with a bit of education, we
can keep the kids from taking that stuff anywhere near the school."

Nash said it's deplorable for anyone to allow such a young child access to
a controlled substance.

" T h e r e ' s absolutely no excuse for it.

"Nobody can come into my office and give me a legitimate reason for giving
a child of that age access to, or encourage them to use, marijuana."

Nash said the Rankin detachment is reacting swiftly, in a proactive manner,
to the situation.

He said the community should be vigilant in its efforts to help police
stamp out the drug problem.

"You'll have people tell you they don't even know what marijuana looks
like, but most are lying.

"Probably 99 per cent of the community knows what it looks like, and what
it smells like when burning.

"When people see kids with it, they should call us so we can deal with it.

"We all have to work together to get this garbage out of our community."