Pubdate: Mon, 07 Jul 2003 Source: Clearwater Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 Clearwater Times Contact: http://www.clearwatertimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1448 Author: Keith McNeill SCHOOL DISTRICT 73 LOOKS AT DRUG STRATEGIES Suspensions for drug and alcohol use have increased for each of the past five years in School District 73, and continue to do so. Over 209 drug related suspensions were given in the district in the 2002/2003 school year. "It's not just a school problem, or a Kamloops problem, it's a community problem," said John Harwood, school trustee for the Clearwater-Blue River area. He was commenting on 13 recommendations to address the issue recently approved by the school board. The recommendations were contained in a report from a committee set up by superintendent Terry Sullivan to look into child and adolescent drug use. Drugs available on the schoolgrounds and off include marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, tobacco, methamphetamines, MDMA (ecstasy), GHB, rohypnol, ketamine and LSD. The committee recommended that prevention programs such as DARE be further entrenched in schools. Programs would cover all grade levels, but especially target Grades 7, 8, 9 and 10. Staff should be trained to recognize signs and symptoms of drug use by students. The RCMP is to be encouraged to provide training for staff and parents on Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST). Staff will also work with police to re-examine the drug-free zone program and to develop strategies for the detection of drugs, including the use of dogs. The committee considered taking a position on federal proposals to decriminalize marijuana, but was unable to reach a consensus. Members of the committee included school principals, counselors, police and representatives from health agencies. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake