TAINTED DOPE SICKENS TEENS

Two St. Peter's junior high school students were treated in hospital
Wednesday after smoking marijuana believed to be laced with another substance.

The Telegram has also learned school officials contacted the Royal
Newfoundland Constabulary after it became clear the students likely
obtained the drug from another student of the school.

School sources say an RNC tracking dog, handler and investigators found a
quantity of marijuana in the school.

Due to the ongoing investigation, the police have not confirmed there was a
seizure.

RNC media relations officer Sgt. Bob Garland said the investigation has
confirmed two girls smoked some marijuana and that it "appears to have been
laced with something else."

"That's where we are with the investigation right now, determining what
else was with that marijuana," Garland said. "We're not even saying that we
found a quantity (of the drug).

"We anticipate that within the next several days that there will be
multiple charges laid."

Brian Shortall, director of the Avalon East School Board, said the students
in question were treated at the Janeway Children's Hospital and released.

The school has been in contact with the parents of those students, he said,
adding "we understand that they are coming along OK."

Shortall said drugs "threaten the safety and security of the school."

Aside from determining the extent of student suspensions for those who are
allegedly dealing or supplying drugs, he said it also must be determined if
mandatory counselling is required for those involved.

"Students are made aware that we don't want drugs in schools," Shortall
said, noting they're educated about the inappropriate use of narcotics.

The RNC also plays a role in that regard, visiting schools in its
jurisdiction and discussing such things as drugs and alcohol.

Drug usage and access to narcotics in junior and senior high schools isn't
a new issue confronting the education system.

Shortall said he doesn't have access to statistics which would enable him
to say one way or the other that the problem is worsening.

But, he noted, there have been past incidents where police found drugs in
schools.

"I've no reason to believe that we're having more incidents of it this year
than we've had in the last number of years," he said.

Garland said the RNC is always concerned when drugs are present in and
around schools.

"We are always gravely concerned when teenagers and/or children are
involved with drugs, and it's not something that we take lightly," the RNC
officer said.

Shortall and Garland agree parents can also play a major role in drug
awareness.

"Children are only in school about 15 per cent of the time during the year,
while the other 85 per cent (of the time) they're not in school," Shortall
said.

Parents cannot turn a blind eye to the realities confronting the school
system, Shortall said, adding they should speak to their children about
correct decision-making, inappropriate sexual conduct, drugs and alcohol.

Garland said awareness always starts in the home.

"Any kind of behaviour modification, any kind of program with respect to
openness, has to start within the home," he said.

"There's an onerous responsibility upon parents, as well, to know what
their children are involved in and to also know what they're doing with
their money."