Pubdate: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 Source: Beacon, The (CN NF) Copyright: 2006 The Beacon Contact: http://www.ganderbeacon.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3279 Note: By STAFF, The Beacon Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) TOBACCO SMOKE WILL CLEAR, DRUGS WON'T There's probably not a lot of people who will argue over the Nova Central School Board's decision to ban smoking on its property, particularly schools. Last week, trustees voted unanimously in favour of banning puffing at all schools, school board facilities, grounds and in board-owned vehicles. In fact, some might question why it took this long to happen, and say the board has been behind the rest of society on this. After all, it's been a while now since tobacco inhalers have been prohibited from lighting up in just about in every other public place, indoors and out. The provincial government even implemented a ban on venues like bingo hall, bars and restaurants, considered the last sanctuaries for smokers. Meanwhile, in some jurisdictions, students still have a place to go during school hours to use a product that is supposed to be illegal for them to obtain. It wouldn't have made sense to allow for that to continue. However, the new rule approved by the board might just be procedure at this point, since 25 out of 39 high schools in the district had already done away with designated smoking areas on their own. While the battle to prevent people from picking up the unhealthy habit of smoking continues, and probably will be waged for many years, the fact is fewer and fewer teens are becoming regular smokers. When some citizens in the school district lobbied hard for this motion to be tabled, one of the major impetuses was the notion the elimination of student smoking areas would also extinguish a great deal of drug use. The thought is smoking areas are -- the ban doesn't actually come into effect until September -- -- prime markets for drug dealing. That somewhat assumes smoking cigarettes goes hand-in-hand with smoking joints, popping pills and ingesting whatever the drug-of-the-month might be. But not all smokers are drug users, and not all drug users actually smoke cigarettes. As for the dealers, it is one less place where can they can solicit teens in selling their illicit wares, but there are many other locales in our communities where youth and young adults congregate. The way we need to look at this is with the approach tobacco is just one of the many drugs we as society have to combat. The ban on smoking in public places is just one victory in that war. Marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and crystal meth, among others, will continue to circulate, be dealt and sold, with or without a small parcel of land where students can go and smoke on school grounds without being suspended. Let's clear the air of not only smoke, but also misconception, myths and naivete. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D