SCHOOLS TO TRADE PUNISHMENT FOR DRUG EDUCATION

Quesnel students caught using illegal drugs at school will soon face
more lenient punishments because of a new pilot program aimed at
increasing their time in school.

School District 28 has approved a one-year trial program that would
cut the average suspension period for students caught using drugs from
seven to 10 days to one to three beginning this fall.

Those who pushed for the more lenient punishment say it's more
conducive to learning.

"We think that big suspensions are doing harm to these youths," said
Dana Napier, a youth counsellor and community prevention worker for
Quesnel Addiction Services. "The punishment's almost promoting them to
be more harmful to themselves because they have more time
unsupervised."

Napier says this is a serious problem for students of all skill and
knowledge levels.

"A lot of them have had anxiety about missing school and have missed a
lot of work and don't have the skills to catch up," said Napier.

Bea Thatcher, executive director of QAS says the old suspension's
length sometimes jeopardised a students chance of graduating.

"A Grade 12 kid with a one-week suspension is often worried they may
not even finish school," said Thatcher.

And the stress of this academic interruption could also worsen the
abuse.

"If a 10-day suspension is going to increase the stress, the chance is
they're more likely to use," she said.

Sue-Ellen Miller, director of instruction for the school district,
says the board is ready to test the benefits of the program.

"The advantages are that students will not miss as much academic time
due to suspension and it provides students an opportunity to learn
more information about drugs and alcohol and their effects on youth,"
said Miller.

This is because the addiction centre's plan increases the drug users'
time in mandatory counselling sessions.

The focus will shift from punishment to education, increasing the
number of substance abuse counselling sessions to four 1 hour slots,
said Thatcher.

But the school maintains control over student discipline because, in
severe cases of drug abuse, principals reserve the right to suspend
for up to 10 days, said Miller.

"What we're trying to do is find out how to reduce suspensions,
support achievement and educate students," she said.

The most common drug youth in Quesnel seek treatment for is cocaine,
according to Thatcher.

She says this drug is especially dangerous for teenage girls, because
it compounds body image issues common in their age and gender group.

"We see a lot more young girls with cocaine problems than young guys
and I suspect a lot of the reason is it helps keep their weight down,"
said Thatcher.

The emotional effects of cocaine make it tempting to both sexes, she
said.

"It's a very seductive drug. It makes them feel good and gives them
all sorts of power and energy," said Thatcher. "But there are so many
ups and downs with cocaine, that it's nearly impossible to function."