Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 Source: Sault Star, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2014 The Sault Star Contact: http://www.saultstar.com/letters Website: http://www.saultstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1071 Author: Michael Purvis SCHOOL DRUG PROGRAM WORKING, SAY POLICE An announcement this week of five drug-related arrests at local schools is a sign that a peer-based drug program is working, says a high school liaison officer. Police announced Wednesday that officers involved in a Jan. 6-10 enforcement effort arrested and charged a 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old male with drug possession, with three others diverted to drug and alcohol counselling programs. "We are seeing a steady decline both in arrests and through self-reported drug use at school," said Const. Mike Rogers, one of two Sault Ste. Marie Police Service high-school liaison officers. Launched in 2009 by local school boards and police, Project ABCD was meant to address drugs in schools by using high school role models to reach kids in the upper elementary grades. Rogers said that early in the program, police conducted a week-long enforcement push that resulted in more than 20 arrests. To see five arrests in a similar enforcement drive this year means the program looks to be working, said Rogers. "I think we're getting the message to the kids through the kids and the kids are more interested in listening to what their peers have to say versus the authority figures and the adults," said Staff Sgt. Jane Martynuck. While it could be that students have learned to avoid police by keeping their drug use away from school or after school hours, Rogers said police also consider that a success. "Are they just getting smarter and going somewhere else? They might be, but if they're doing that they're not in that high-visibility area at the school where that wayward Grade 9 kid can kind of wander over and get engaged with that activity," said Rogers. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D