SERIES TACKLES TOPIC OF THE COMMUNITY-WIDE DRUG PROBLEM

It used to be that kids got 'busted' for doing drugs at school.
Today, it's becoming more common for teachers to confront a student
about drugs or alcohol, and receive an honest answer.

"I, now as a vice principal, can approach some kids and say, 'How's
your drug use?' And they'll be open with me," said Malcolm Reid, W.L.
Seaton vice principal.

It's now a thing of the past to see scolding and punishment as a way
of dealing with drug and alcohol use in the schools.

Even the term 'busted' is taboo.

This new-age, honest approach isn't a sign that schools have come to
accept drug use, but it's a proven, more effective way of dealing
with substance-use problems.

"I think it used to be just strictly enforcement and that didn't
work," said Reid, noting the current four-pillar approach of
education, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement.

"I think our district's come a long, long way. We're one of the
leaders in the province."

But substance abuse is obviously more than a problem in schools,
which needs to be addressed.

"Any issues that we see in the schools are really reflective of what
is happening in the communities. The changes we need to make are not
school-based changes, they're community-based changes."

So the school district is extending an opportunity of education to
parents and the community.

The district presents part three in a Substance Abuse Awareness
series Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Seaton Secondary theatre with Const.
Brian Evans of the Vernon RCMP drug task force.

Const. Evans will be talking about some of the current problems in
the community, what the RCMP is doing, and what everyone can do.

"What can we do as far as a community-wide approach to battle against
this?" said Evans. "This is not just a policing issue, it's a community issue."

The fact is that drugs are a starting point for many in high school.
For some it is just a short-lived experiment, but unfortunately
sometimes those experiments can develop into an everyday addiction.

"There are a lot of cases where people are some of the best students
in your school and then they start partying and are now some of the
worst people in their community," said Evans.

Reid attests to that fact.

"I can't tell you the number of times I've had a parent in my office
saying 'what happened to my baby?'"

Now a lot of the times these situations are relieved through help
from the schools and community resources. But help at home is also imperative.

"Catch it at the beginning, before it's too late," urges Evans.

To help parents do so, Evans will be offering tips such as keeping an
eye out for such drug paraphernalia as rubber tubing, L-joints, brass
fittings and mini plastic baggies.

He will also be raising awareness about the situation in the
community, which is that crack is the biggest drug in this town.

For more information about the presentation contact Doug Rogers,
Vernon School District substance abuse prevention counsellor at 549-6719.