DRUG PROBLEM IN AREA GROWING

Smokin' Up

Lakeshore Advance -- It is no surprise that Senior Const. Don
Shropshall, community services officer for the Huron OPP, says there
has been an increase in the drug use in this area.

"The drug problem has risen in South Huron and Bluewater," said
Shropshall, adding the most significant increase has been among people
in their 20s and 30s.

"It has led to a spinoff to crimes (such as) thefts, break-ins and
robberies," he said.

Drug use has also resulted in the increase of social issues such as
domestic violence and violence among friends.

"We have done several search warrants in that area for drugs," he said.

The OPP has been also working on ways to increase public awareness and
co-operation. As a result, several farmers have contacted the police
about people growing marijuana in their fields.

Shropshall said the police are also aware of drug problems at the
South Huron District High School in Exeter, but have not seen an
increase in the drug use among students.

"We have charged a couple with trafficking," said Shropshall.

The traffickers did not go to the high school, but two students were
charged with possession. Jeff Reaburn, the high school principal, said
since drugs are in the community, they "found" their way to the school.

"Each week we have some concerns about (drugs)," said Reaburn. "We
detect the smell of marijuana from kids." He said students refer to
smoking marijuana with the numbers "4:20," which they write on their
notebooks, lockers and other places in the school. "I've seen it more
this year than last year," said Reaburn.

The reprimands for students caught using drugs vary from case to case.

"If it's during school day, then they're suspended from school (for)
minimum of three days," said Reaburn. Shropshall said students are "an
experimental group" that is approached to try drugs, which leads to
later addiction problems.

According to the Ontario Student Drug Use Survey, 29.6 per cent of
Grade 7 to 12 students tried marijuana, 10 per cent tried
hallucinogens, 4.8 tried cocaine, 4.1 tried ecstasy and 3.3 per cent
tried methamphetamine last year.

Shropshall said locally, marijuana is still the most common drug, but
the use of cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamine is on the rise.

A baggie of marijuana sells in this area for $15 to $18, while a pill
of ecstasy sells for between $15 to $20. A gram of cocaine is
available for $80 to $100.

The misuse of prescription drugs is another way local addicts get high.

Reaburn said the school offers voluntary counselling for students who
have been caught using drugs. He has contacted Shropshall about
possible presentations and is waiting for an answer. In the meantime,
he has invited the Exeter OPP to come talk to students.