DRUG STUDY STARTS

It's up to members of the superintendent's committee on drug use in schools
to figure out if there actually is a drug problem in area schools and, if
there is, find a way to fix it.

This was the gist of the committee's introductory meeting, says Arnie
Kidner, district parent advisory council's representative. The committee's
task will be coming up with a variety of methods to reduce drug use and
suspensions in schools.

The committee will split into three focus groups. The first will deal with
education and prevention, the second at intervention and treatment, while
the final group will look at protection and enforcement.

One of the biggest factors in rising drug-related suspensions, Kidner says,
is the general acceptance of soft drugs, such as alcohol and marijuana.

"Parental approval of soft drugs seems to be an issue. We also have
multigenerational drug use and drugs become easier to acquire when parents
are using them."

Kidner says he isn't certain there is a major issue facing Kamloops'
students, but it is something the committee hopes to uncover. "I don't
necessarily believe we have a huge addiction issue. Is it experimentation
or is it addiction?"

On the other hand, he adds, the 197 drug-related suspensions recorded last
year merely reflect those students who were caught, suggesting those
students "may just scratch the surface."