Source: Advertiser, The (Australia)

HELP US COPE WITH DRUGS IN SCHOOLS

STUDENTS as young as 11 are attending school under the influence of illegal
drugs, according to teachers.

WHILE emphasising such incidents are rare, they say that in some cases
students are suffering from high anxiety and missing classes as a result.

The revelation came as the South Australian Primary Principals Association
yesterday made a "desperate" plea for an increase in the number of
counsellors for primary schools.

Only 90 of the State's 400 primary schools have counsellors.

The association's president, Ms Leonie Trimper, said staff were increasingly
encountering students and families experiencing serious social problems such
as drugs, breakdowns and financial hardship.

Schools needed trained counsellors to educate students about these issues.

"Primary school counsellors can take on a preventative role, which is
beneficial to the community," Ms Trimper said.

The community should not shy away from the issue of drugs.

"We, at primary schools, cannot put our heads in the sand and say our
students are too young, even though there are only isolated incidents we are
dealing with," Ms Trimper said.

"Students live in an environment where people are taking drugs. If it's not
in their immediate home then it could be at a relative's or neighbor's
home."

The president of the SA Primary School Counsellors Association, Mrs Mignon
Souter, said: "Children are confused about the messages they are getting.

"One message is that drugs are not good yet mum and dad or an uncle or
friend are smoking it or growing it.

"We need drug education programs right through primary schools and more
counsellors."

Cowandilla Primary School counsellor Mr Steve Medhurst said that for some
students, drugs were part of their culture because they were prevalent in
the home.

"They have access to it and sometimes it comes to the school," he said.

The Education Minister, Mr Buckby, said a strategy was being devised to
tackle the drug problem in schools and the community.