DRUG PROGRAM BEING TESTED IN BARRIERE

In an effort to stomp out drugs, Barriere Secondary and Elementary
School are participating in a pilot prevention program beginning in
the new school year.

Barriere graduate, Jacob Brown, said there were lots of people
suspended for smoking marijuana.

"It's a big problem in Barriere," Brown said. "Lots of Grade 9 and 10
students go drinking on the weekends every weekend." He believes the
reason for drug use comes from the lack of activities to do in town.

The only way Brown sees the problem improving the situation is from a
large effort of people, but did say the program can benefit students
who have yet to be exposed to drugs and alcohol.

"A lot of it has to do with parenting, plus some people don't fear
their parents," he said.

"In Barriere it is seen as okay to do drugs and drink, but there are
people who are against it."

School District 73 voted in support of a drug and alcohol
prevention/intervention pilot program and Karl DeBruijn, director of
student support services for the school district, has a good feeling
about receiving approval for the program.

"This is an issue that is a problem in our society," DeBruijn said.
"Part of this project is to create a well educated community with
parents and teachers."

DeBruijn is aware that people cannot be around when students make a
choice, but this project is intended to reduce the use of substances.

DeBruijn said he believes it will work because of the three pillars
which include education and prevention, intervention and treatment and
detection and enforcement.

"We have had programs in the past that are based on scare tactics,
this differs because it involves community," he said, which involves
agencies and the RCMP.

DeBruijn knows that working with parents who have a direct link to the
students will make it stronger with the added support.

Barriere Secondary principal, Greg Howard, is in favour of the program
and believes the problem needs to be worked with.

"We want to be proactive and not just reactive," Howard said. "I
believe this program will make a difference."

Howard said he has spoken to people in the community who have
expressed their concerns and said one of the goals is to put together
a function advisory group with the community and identify different
working methods with kids who use substances.

Next year Howard said they will try to have students reduce their
usage and make smarter choices when using.

Examples he suggested were binge drinking and smoking
marijuana.

Brian Beck, Barriere Elementary principal said this gives them more
tools to work with his students.

"We need to make sure our students know the info because it isn't a
problem here," Beck said.

Ms. Angela Lawrence is the coordinator working with this who Howard
said has abilities that other members of the school do not have.

Other schools participating are Norkam Secondary in Kamloops, Logan
Lake Secondary and their feeder systems.