SCHOOLS DECLARE WAR ON DRUGS

*Survey shows 15 per cent use LSD, eight per cent use cocaine

A new war on drugs that pays cash for tips will force users out of local
schoolyards and their neighbourhoods starting today.

The school district, CrimeStoppers, the RCMP and the Rotary Club of Kelowna
have teamed up to reduce the frequency of marijuana smoking and drinking in
and around Central Okanagan secondary and middle schools by creating bubble
zones.

Signs declaring school areas as drug-free zones will be erected around
Kelowna Secondary, George Pringle Secondary and KLO Secondary. Neighbours
and students will be encouraged to report drug and alcohol users to the Teen
CrimeStoppers line (860-TEEN).

As well, Rotarians will pair up with student volunteers and knock on doors
of every home in a two-to-four block radius of each school. They'll explain
the program to residents in person.

"We all share a common concern, our children," said Dave Carter, director of
instruction for Student Support Services.

"We all see a common problem: drugs. This is not the answer. The drug-free
zones are one more tool helping our children and our community."

Organizers plan to blitz all schools by June, 2000. Volunteers will target
all households around secondary and middle schools, which will overlap most
elementary school neighbourhoods.

Last night's announcement at Martin Centre followed the release of a
research study that found half the Grade 12 students surveyed had smoked
marijuana in the last week.

Marvin Krank, dean of arts and education at OUC, surveyed 1,748 Central
Okanagan students from Grades 7 to 12 in the spring of 1997 to find out the
drugs they used and how often they used them. Among his findings:

* More than 90 per cent of students use or intend to use alcohol.

* More than 60 per cent use or intend to use marijuana.

* Almost 20 per cent of Grade 12s drink alcohol regularly.

* Nearly 15 per cent of students use LSD.

* More than 21 per cent use psylocybine (magic mushrooms).

* Nearly eight per cent use cocaine.

* Nearly 40 per cent of Grade 12s binge drink, ie. normally drink six or
more beverages at a time.

Krank said the pattern of use reflects a North American trend. He said
children are four times more likely to use marijuana if their peers use it.
And they're 40 per cent more likely to use it if their parents use it.

He recommended school-based prevention begin before Grade 7.

Carter said drug use has led to children getting poorer grades, dropping out
of sports, associating with undesirable friends, skipping classes, dropping
out and breaking the law.

During the months Krank prepared his study, funded by the National Science
and Engineering Research Council, Kelowna's Rotary Club asked the school
district what its biggest problem was.

Once Rotarians learned it was drug-use in schools, they pledged $36,000 for
signs and pamphlets to explain the program, which has already been tried in
Kamloops.

"I know they're very happy with the program," said Rotary president Keith
MacMillan.

Students at KSS, KLO and George Pringle will learn about the project at
school assemblies starting today.