DRUG PROBLEM HERE NOT AS PREVALENT AS OTHER PARTS OF COUNTY, SAY OFFICIALS

Drug deals may be commonplace in some Simcoe County schools but not in
Collingwood, officials say.

That's the local reaction to a large drug bust that took place at
Nantyr Shores Secondary School in Innisfil last week.

Seven people were arrested but only two were charged. Students there
said they weren't surprised.

"In this school there's definitely a problem," said Laura Batten, a
Grade 9 student. "It's because it's easier to lure kids here,
especially the newcomers."

Fellow student Amanda Keskikyla wasn't shocked either, but she's well
aware of drugs at the school.

"You could walk down the hall and say, 'hey can I buy some drugs."

Collingwood OPP detective Jamie Blair said the problem isn't as great
here.

"I wouldn't say to the same extent as there," he said. "We certainly
have our share of marijuana and pill users and some minor incidents of
cocaine and stuff in the schools."

"I was down for that incident (in Innisfil) and it certainly seemed
more prevalent there," Blair added.

Crystal meth hasn't yet made much of an impact here yet, he said, but
it's slowly working its way to this area.

Lonnie Bolton, the principal at Jean Vanier high school in
Collingwood, said he knows there are drugs present at the school but
doesn't consider them much of an issue.

"I would say that drugs are not a problem here," he said."

That's despite a drug bust occurring at the school within the last
year. Charlton Jones, the principal at Collingwood Collegiate
Institute, also downplayed the situation.

"I don't think there's enough drugs here to write a story about," he
said.

The Simcoe County District School Board is hoping future students
won't have to deal with the issue.

"We know that it's a real problem and we'd be naive to think students
will never do drugs," Laura Glynn, school board communications officer
said. "I think we have to hope that it won't become a full-blown
problem and believe that we're making a difference."