Pubdate: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 Source: Whitehorse Star (CN YK) Copyright: 2007 Whitehorse Star Contact: http://www.whitehorsestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1493 Author: Tammy Sehn DRUGS ARE PREVALENT THROUGHOUT THE YUKON Lately, the media have been portraying Porter Creek Secondary School as a drug-riddled school with so many problems that they have to hire a "drug dog" to patrol the grounds. This is not the idea behind Canines for Safer Schools. Canines for Safer Schools is an education program. It is naive to think that Porter Creek Secondary School is the only school that is concerned about drug use. Drugs are prevalent throughout the Yukon and are in our schools. By hiring a person trained in educating students against the use of drugs, Porter Creek Secondary School is taking the initiative to stop the Yukon-wide drug problem in schools. The dog is a tool the handler uses to help raise awareness and educate the students about the consequences of drug and alcohol use. The dog also acts as a deterrent for those who bring drugs into the school. This is an amazing program, and it won't take long for other schools to see the benefits and implement it into their schools as well. Please check out the following website with information on a program in Alberta that has been running since 2005: http://www.medicinehatpolice.con/crimprev9.html Tammy Sehn Whitehorse - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman