DRUG USE CONTINUES DESPITE INITIATIVES

Efforts At High School Focus On Prevention

Problems with drug use in Summerland are not going away even though
the community has been focussing on curbing this problem, a substance
abuse worker says.

Chad Teigen, substance abuse prevention coordinator at Summerland
Secondary School, says drug use patterns in Summerland are no
different from the national trends.

Across Canada, one-third of students have tried marijuana and
one-third of those are regular users.

"We're no different than any other high school," he says. "Drinking
and drugs are in every community."

While marijuana and alcohol are both common in Summerland, other drugs
such as cocaine, ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine are also
circulating.

"There are a very small percentage who are using harder drugs like
crystal meth," he says.

Teigen works in high schools in Summerland and Penticton with an
emphasis on prevention.

Throughout the year, he makes presentations to each class from Grades
9 to 12.

"Anything you do to your body will have long-term negative effects,"
he says.

He also provides counseling and works with at-risk youth in the
schools.

Despite his efforts at prevention, he believes drug use in the
community will not go away.

"We will always have the issues," he says. "I don't think we will ever
have eradication in the community."

The community's emphasis on drug use is still important, he
says.

He believes raising awareness about drugs and talking about issues
will help to encourage students and teens to avoid drugs.

"The more preventative measures you have the more likely a young
person will be to not get into drug use," he says.