STUDENTS CONCLUDE DRUG EDUCATION LACKING

There needs to be more relevant education on drugs in schools taught by
people who know what they are talking about, say journalism students Sarah
Harwood and Frances Enyedy.

"All the stuff we see is very biased ... from the 80s ... and the students
don't take it seriously. It seems more like propaganda than fact," says
Harwood.

In a questionnaire filled out by 315 students at WLSS, Harwood and Enyedy
asked questions such as why students use drugs, where they get them, how
many times a month they use them, and whether they plan to keep using the
drugs.

They tallied the answers to the questions and charted the results on graphs.

While they admit there were some flaws in their research techniques, they
say the exercise did teach them a lot about student attitudes toward drugs.

They say the survey shows that drug users and non-drug users alike believe
that it is extremely easy for students to buy drugs.

They also concluded that the number of students using alcohol and marijuana
is very high and the frequency these drugs are used is also very high.

With many students indicating they started using drugs out of boredom or
for fun, they also conclude there is a need for more drug-free activities
for youth in the community.

In their report Harwood and Enyedy also say there is a perception that WLSS
has a serious drug problem.

However, they say there are no comparisons to other schools in the lake
city or in the province as to the extent of drug use, so one has to read
the data they collected with caution and not paint WLSS with the broad
brush of criticism.

Journalism teacher Tim Hurley says reactions to the student surveys were
varied but most staff, counsellors and administrative staff expressed shock
at the number of students trying cocaine.

They were also disturbed by indications that marijuana use appears to be
higher than tobacco use, says Hurley.

He adds one staff member was not surprised at the high level of marijuana
use because almost daily he finds evidence of bags, leavings, and rolling
papers in a boy's washroom.

Hurley notes that judging by his experience as a teacher and research that
he did a few years ago for his masters degree, drug use is similar in all
secondary schools.