TEENS ON DRUGS NEED HELP INSTEAD OF SUSPENSION FROM SCHOOL

Desperate parents of kids caught with drugs say their children need
treatment rather than suspensions from Richmond schools.

In a recent meeting held by the Thompson Community Association, parents
voiced their concerns about the lack of support at the school level for
teens who have problems with drugs.

"The parents are asking, 'Why suspend a child who is already doing poorly
at school so they can get out and use more drugs?'," community association
president Julie Halfnights said.

"Parents came to us because they couldn't get any answers through the schools."

One Richmond parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said her Grade 11 son
was caught with drug paraphernalia last year and suspended for three days
without any school work or counselling.

"I wanted my son to do some homework or write an essay on the harm of
drugs. But he was sent home with nothing," she said.

"Parents just don't have as strong an effect on the kids that supports like
counsellors or the school do."

In 1996, the district issued a list of recommended alternatives to
suspensions including in-school suspensions, transition programs and
counselling.

Halfnights wrote the school board to ask what happened to those
recommendations.

School board chair Sandra Bourque wrote back that it's up to each
individual school to use the recommendations offered.

Bourque did not return calls by press time.

Halfnights said once the matter is up to schools, results are harder to
come by because of things like time constraints or budgetary concerns.

But, she said, if the matter isn't dealt with at the school level, the
behaviour continues into adulthood and the problem then becomes a social
issue, which could cost 10 times the tax dollars.

Jack Hirose of Richmond Alcohol and Drug Action Team (RADAT) said the City
of Richmond is taking steps to try to resolve teen drug issue early.

He was recently granted funding for a two-year pilot project to provide
drug education in both elementary and secondary Richmond schools, starting
in the next few months.

"It's the first time the city has set aside money," Hirose said of the
typically provincially funded group.

"When parents are vocal, they create awareness about certain issues and
come up with solutions."

Until recently, Hirose has been the only drug and alcohol counsellor at
RADAT. The team has been given additional funds for another counsellor. He
said the office treats about 125 to 150 teenagers in one-on-one sessions
each year.