SCHOOLS FIGHT DRUG USE

Elk Island School Programs Help Students Overcome Drug Addiction

When it comes to drug use, the Elk Island school boards are focusing
on prevention to keep students safe.

"The drug culture knows no boundaries. Whether it's an urban school
or a rural school, it can affect both," said RCMP Const. Wally Henry.
"I think every community battles drug issues. Our detachment has,
obviously, a full-time drug unit that targets drug dealers in
Strathcona County. But there's marijuana, cocaine, an assortment of
pills. We're not immune from anything like that."

Even in schools, he said.

Henry also confirmed the presence of a methamphetamine drug called
Strawberry Quick within the county.

In addition to other types of methamphetamine, Strawberry Quick looks
like pink-coloured rock candy. The belief is that the appearance of
Strawberry Quick makes it more marketable to children, he said.

Typically, kids under the influence of drugs show signs of loss of
appetite, staying up all hours and changes in behavior, Henry noted.
He added drug paraphernalia may be kept in places that are hidden from parents.

Asked about encouraging parents to look through their child's room on
occasion while he or she is at school, Henry said he doesn't tell
parents how to parent, "But you can't be naive and think that your
kids aren't going to be exposed to this."

He added, "I think it's incumbent on the parents to make sure that
they don't bury their head in the sand and find out as much as they
can about the different things their kids can be exposed to."

The Elk Island Public and Catholic school districts have acknowledged
that students have been caught with drugs on their campuses.

Within local schools, marijuana has been the most commonly found
item, according to Elk Island Catholic School Board superintendent
Chris Diachuk, and Marianne Barrett, the director of planning and
accountability with the Elk Island Public School Board. Barrett said
"harder" drugs may also be used by a smaller segment of students.

A drug's popularity ebbs and flows with the times, Barrett said.

Diachuk and Barrett both said their school districts have selected to
focus on prevention measures to keep students from turning to drug use.

The districts are also partners with Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Commission, DARE and the RCMP, among other community programs.

Diachuk said his district also offers a comprehensive guidance
program for students at all schools, including councillors that every
student is encouraged to spend time with.

Barrett said a prevention co-ordinator meets with parents and
students at public schools to work on prevention awareness, as well
as early identification in a student's drug use.

Barrett said the involvement of family members is key to the success
of helping a student defeat drug addiction.

Although their salaries are paid by Strathcona County, the RCMP
provides resource officers to schools that work with students and
faculty while enforcing the law and keeping peace, Diachuk said. The
constables meet with parents, principals and school boards to keep
them informed, he said.

When a student is found with drugs, "We see it as our issue in our
building," Diachuk said. The RCMP is called and peace officers work
with the students and families.

It's not uncommon to find that students with drugs come from a family
where either a parent or sibling are also using, Diachuk and Barrett said.

Depending on the case, students are suspended and placed in "fairly
intensive intervention," Diachuk said.

Students suspected of drug use or drug selling can also be subject to
searches. Diachuk noted that since lockers are school property, a
suspicion - or history - of drug use could be enough to warrant a search.

Faculty at the schools are also informed about what signs to look for
in a student they may suspect of drug use. It also pays to know the students.

"We really take pride in the fact that we know who our students are,"
Diachuk said.