Drug `harm reduction' could be in schools by fall

By SHAUNE MacKINLAY The Daily News

The Health Department could introduce new drugeducation methods to
some schools as early as the fall.

For about the past six months, the department has been working to
develop what are called "harm reduction" programs, says Brian Wilbur,
director of drug dependency services.

Unlike the traditional approach that preaches abstinence, harm
reduction recognizes that some teenagers are still bound to use drugs.

"Harm reduction is looking at trying to reduce the risks of drug use,"
Wilbur said yesterday.

He pointed out the 40 per cent of teenagers who are not using drugs
should be encouraged to remain drugfree. But he said it's time to
turn attention to the other 60 per cent who do drink or do drugs.

"The current programs are very effective for one group. Now we have to
build on that to make sure that the programs are effective for some of
these other groups as well."

Wilbur said the Health Department will involve school boards, teachers
and the Education Department in developing new approaches to drug
education. "It's not just one person's solution to this; it becomes a
communitywide cooperative effort," he said.

Drug use is increasing among Nova Scotia teenagers, according to
research conducted for the Health Department by metro doctors
Christiane Poulin and David Elliott.

The number of students who use cannabis more than once a month nearly
tripled between 1991 and 1996, to 12.3 per cent from 4.4 per cent.
More than half (54.2 per cent) of the nearly 4,000 students they
interviewed said they drank, and 30.3 per cent drank more than once a
month.

The number of students who use alcohol, tobacco and cannabis nearly
doubled, to 21.9 per cent from 12.4 per cent.

In an article published yesterday in the Canadian Medical Association
Journal Poulin and Elliott said it might be time to get beyond a Just
Say No approach.

"Traditionally, schoolbased drug education and prevention programs
have been premised on a dichotomy of choices abstinence or abuse
and have sanctioned only one option abstinence," they wrote.

Pat Smith, president of the Nova Scotia School Boards Association,
said she's heard nothing yet about planned changes to drug education.
"I just hope they deal with the problem, and that they do the right
thing," she said.

Harm reduction is already used in sex education, which now teaches
safe sex instead of preaching chastity.

``really quite ridiculous'' in its depiction of pot
users gone mad.

``The motion picture you are about to witness may startle you,'' said
Mr. Burstein, reading from the film's forward for the benefit of the
court.

The introduction went on to describe several effects from smoking pot,
including ``sudden, violent, uncontrollable laughter,'' and
``incurable insanity.'' The forward concluded its warning by stating
the public must ``wipe out this ghastly menace.''

After turning off the video, Mr. Burstein turned to Dr. Kalant and
said, ``The vast majority of those statements ...''

``Are nonsense,'' said Dr. Kalant.

Mr. Burstein asked Dr. Kalant about an RCMP booklet titled Racing
Against Drugs distributed in cooperation with the two Londonarea
school boards. Dr. Kalant was asked to consider the scientific
accuracy of its list of marijuana's harmful effects, particularly the
statement that THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, accumulates in
the spaces between human brain cells.

``I'm afraid this looks like pure invention,'' said Dr. Kalant.

In response to Mr. Wilson's objection to questioning Dr. Kalant about
the booklet, Mr. Burstein said, ``this is put out by the RCMP, one of
the organizations that are putting out data that the government is
basing its (drug enforcement) policies.''

Final arguments will be presented Tuesday, May 20.