SCHOOLS PROBE DRUG PROGRAMS

Nanaimo school district wants to know if drug and alcohol prevention
programs are effective.

The district, with the help of two criminology students at Malaspina
University-College, plan to survey Grade 8 and 10 students about
substance abuse and prevention programs to see if they are having an
effect on students' decisions, said acting superintendent Mike Munro.

Parents will be notified about the survey, which the district plans
to conduct in the next two weeks. Participation is voluntary and
students can withdraw at any time.

No personal information that identifies students will be collected.

The criminology students will summarize the findings and prepare a
report for the school board.