DRUGS ARE PREVALENT THROUGHOUT THE YUKON

Lately, the media have been portraying Porter Creek Secondary School
as a drug-riddled school with so many problems that they have to hire
a "drug dog" to patrol the grounds.

This is not the idea behind Canines for Safer Schools. Canines for
Safer Schools is an education program.

It is naive to think that Porter Creek Secondary School is the only
school that is concerned about drug use. Drugs are prevalent
throughout the Yukon and are in our schools.

By hiring a person trained in educating students against the use of
drugs, Porter Creek Secondary School is taking the initiative to stop
the Yukon-wide drug problem in schools.

The dog is a tool the handler uses to help raise awareness and
educate the students about the consequences of drug and alcohol use.
The dog also acts as a deterrent for those who bring drugs into the school.

This is an amazing program, and it won't take long for other schools
to see the benefits and implement it into their schools as well.

Please check out the following website with information on a program
in Alberta that has been running since 2005:

http://www.medicinehatpolice.con/crimprev9.html

Tammy Sehn

Whitehorse