VERMILION BATTLES DRUGS IN SCHOOL

Vermilion Standard -- If you think drugs are not a problem in
Vermilion, you'd be both right and wrong.

The extent of Vermilion's drug problem is nowhere near that of the
city of Edmonton, Calgary or even Lloydminster, but to say Vermilion
is drug free would be off base.

"About a year and a half ago I approached several agencies including
RCMP and Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) to
validate what I was hearing, which was maybe we had more of a drug
problem in Vermilion than we recognized," said J.R. Robson school
guidance counselor Karen Greenwood.

The results of the meeting were staggering.

"My perception was that kids using were getting younger, more kids
were using, more kids were talking about using and it was all validated."

At the February 21 town meeting Greenwood approached the town council
and provided them with a few conclusions she has drawn after
researching the problem.

- - Grade five and six students are beginning to dabble in drugs.

- - Drug use isn't limited to alcohol or marijuana. Cocaine and crystal
meth are also being abused around town.

- - Children who were once thought to be weekend users are now thought
to be abusing drugs during the week.

Despite the increase in drug use, Greenwood said the problem is only
affecting a small percentage of the population.

"We're not talking about even a third of the kids. We're talking
about maybe five per cent of the kids."

That small population could increase though if an intervention does
not take place says Greenwood.

"The number one factor we found in kids taking drugs was peer
pressure from other kids to test the stuff."

Greenwood is hoping to employ an intervention program, with the help
of parents, in Vermilion that allows the committee to intervene with
kids who are already abusing drugs.

Greenwood has also employed her students' help in working to
eliminate the problem.

"A lot of the students said sitting in the gym and listening to
someone talk about drugs was ineffective. Whose going to raise their
hand in front of 400 kids and ask questions? Instead of this we are
going to bring in speakers, real life abusers, and have them talk to
smaller groups."

Greenwood believes this approach will work better with children and
hopefully make a greater impact on their lives.