Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jul 2003
Source: Williams Lake Tribune, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Williams Lake Tribune
Contact:  http://www.wltribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1226
Author: Gaeil Farrar
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

STUDENTS CONCLUDE DRUG EDUCATION LACKING

There needs to be more relevant education on drugs in schools taught by 
people who know what they are talking about, say journalism students Sarah 
Harwood and Frances Enyedy.

"All the stuff we see is very biased ... from the 80s ... and the students 
don't take it seriously. It seems more like propaganda than fact," says 
Harwood.

In a questionnaire filled out by 315 students at WLSS, Harwood and Enyedy 
asked questions such as why students use drugs, where they get them, how 
many times a month they use them, and whether they plan to keep using the 
drugs.

They tallied the answers to the questions and charted the results on graphs.

While they admit there were some flaws in their research techniques, they 
say the exercise did teach them a lot about student attitudes toward drugs.

They say the survey shows that drug users and non-drug users alike believe 
that it is extremely easy for students to buy drugs.

They also concluded that the number of students using alcohol and marijuana 
is very high and the frequency these drugs are used is also very high.

With many students indicating they started using drugs out of boredom or 
for fun, they also conclude there is a need for more drug-free activities 
for youth in the community.

In their report Harwood and Enyedy also say there is a perception that WLSS 
has a serious drug problem.

However, they say there are no comparisons to other schools in the lake 
city or in the province as to the extent of drug use, so one has to read 
the data they collected with caution and not paint WLSS with the broad 
brush of criticism.

Journalism teacher Tim Hurley says reactions to the student surveys were 
varied but most staff, counsellors and administrative staff expressed shock 
at the number of students trying cocaine.

They were also disturbed by indications that marijuana use appears to be 
higher than tobacco use, says Hurley.

He adds one staff member was not surprised at the high level of marijuana 
use because almost daily he finds evidence of bags, leavings, and rolling 
papers in a boy's washroom.

Hurley notes that judging by his experience as a teacher and research that 
he did a few years ago for his masters degree, drug use is similar in all 
secondary schools.
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