Pubdate: Wed, 25 May 2005
Source: Lake Country Calendar (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Lake Country News
Contact:  http://www.lakecountrynews.net
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2229
Author: Wylie Eden	
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

THE GOOD AND BAD NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AT GESS

There's some good news and some bad news about drug use among students at 
George Elliot Secondary School.

The good news, says principal Des Sjoquist, is that his school is just a 
microcosm of other schools in BC and Canada.

"There are no more or no less kids using drugs at this school than any 
other school I've been an administrator at," he says. "Whether it was while 
I was in Mexico or in the city of Coquitlam drugs is becoming a universal 
problem."

The bad news, he adds, noting the duality, is that the school is just like 
any other school when it comes to drug use; some GESS kids, and it can be a 
teen from any background, are using drugs including marijuana, cocaine, 
crack, smoking heroine as well as the dreaded crystal meth.

It's a serious problem; one teachers and administrators find themselves 
dealing with once or twice a week as 14 kids have been busted for drugs 
since February.

However, it is reality school officials are trying to tackle head on by 
strictly enforcing a harder line on drug abusers including a three strikes 
and you are out policy. On the bright side none of the kids caught with 
drugs have received a third strike meaning they are either getting better 
at hiding their drug use or have been scared straight.

Sjoquist is also taking a proactive approach to stem the tide of drug use 
at his school by using powers granted under provincial legislation.

While suspected drug users try to stay one step ahead of both the police 
and their teachers by using innovative devices to conceal drugs and 
paraphernalia, principals and vices are becoming equally crafty and have 
been known to search kids using their powers under the legislation.

"In some ways administrators have more power than the police when it comes 
to what we can do in terms of searching kids we think are using," says 
Sjoquist. adding that he regularly searches film containers, mint boxes, 
baggy pants, cigarette packs and even hoodys but only when he has reason to 
believe the teen has been using drugs.

It's a-none-too subtle message that drug use will no longer be tolerated at 
GESS.

But perhaps the best weapon at the disposal of Sjoquist is straight talk 
about drug use at his school.

"We can't sweep this problem under the rug and pretend it doesn't exists," 
says Sjoquist. "We need to raise the awareness about this issue and that, 
in turn, will allow parents to get proactive."

And Monday night the school took a giant step towards raising the dialogue 
about drugs at GESS by inviting Lake Country RCMP Sgt. Dwaine Wetteland to 
administer a startling dose of reality to a group of 17 concerned parents.

"Drugs are readily available out there and I'm not talking about just pot," 
Wetteland told parents. "But now they can easily get their hands on 
cocaine, crack, crystal meth, and even heroine.

"Kelowna is a Vancouver city now and we are its suburbs and this stuff is 
spilling out here."

While crystal meth is causing the most concern for law enforcement 
officials, heroine is starting to creep onto the radar screen as teens and 
addicts alike are finding it to be a cheap high at only $5 a point.

"What the kids are doing is chasing the dragon," he says. "They are smoking 
the stuff and that makes it even more addictive."

When it comes to meth, adds Wetteland, the criminal element that is 
producing the drug has been known to lace it with rat poison and acetone. 
It sells for $15 at the street level and one hit can keep a user high as 
akite for 12-24 hours.

"You do it once and it is already starting to bust down brain cells, it's 
just bad junk and it starts to fry the brain instantly," he says.

And while parents may think they know their children Wetteland cautions 
they should not take anything for granted. Teens on meth or other drugs, he 
says, can be easily spotted if parents are willing to open their eyes. For 
example kids on meth sometimes don't sleep for days and when they do they 
often crash for days at a time. They lose weight quickly and always seem to 
twitching and touching their faces he adds.

If a parent even remotely suspects their kids or their teen's friends are 
involved in drugs they should get proactive and "toss their rooms." While 
some teens may find this to be an invasion of privacy and may harbour 
temporary resentment towards their parents, it does beat the alternative, 
he adds.

"I have seen so many parents who worry their kids are on drugs," he says. 
"They think the next time they see their kid he or she could be on a slab. 
And sometimes it does work out that way."

Even marijuana these days can be more hazardous than it was in the 1960s 
because it is 20 times stronger than the stuff some parents may have 
sampled in "the summer of love."

Because growing and selling marijuana has become a multi-billion dollar 
industry in BC, producers spray their crops with harsh pesticides to 
protect their investment. Grass, he adds, may seem harmless, but it is not. 
It is also physiologically addictive.

Wettleland says the problem is not just one of law enforcement or one that 
should be left up to teachers.

He says parents have to know what their kids are up to, even those in 
elementary school, and shouldn't be afraid to just drop in to a party to 
check up on what is really going on.

If parents, police, teachers and students can all get on the same page then 
perhaps something can be done long-term to stop the problem before it gets 
worse.

"I look at it as Russian Roulette with a six shooter revolver," he says. 
"Cigarettes and alcohol have allowed two chambers full already, do we need 
more chambers filled."

Meantime Sjoquist realizes the fight against drugs could take some time.

"It's time to start standing up as members of this community and say no 
more," he says. "If 99 per cent of us are in agreement on this issue then 
what is the problem?"
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom