Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jun 2000
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2000 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd.
Contact:  Private Bag 4722, Christchurch, New Zealand
Fax: +64-3-364-8238
Website: http://www.press.co.nz/
Author: Tara Ross

SUSPENSIONS OVER DRUGS RISE IN SCHOOLS

Drug-related offences comprised 104 of the 1482 total suspensions from 
Canterbury schools in 1998 to 1999, up from 82 out of 1227 in the previous 
12 months.

All schools in Christchurch have some form of drug education as part of the 
health curriculum, which can include police and celebrity visits along with 
health information.

All schools also have a zero-tolerance policy, but methods for monitoring 
and reducing drug usage among students range from doing almost nothing to 
get-tough policies, including random police searches and the suspension or 
expulsion of drug-abusing students.

Burnside High School principal Graham Stoop said his school supports active 
co-operation with the police for occasional dog searches.

Other schools said any student caught with cannabis is referred immediately 
to the youth aid section of the police.

Mairehau High School principal Neil Lancaster said such students are 
required to take on a drug education and counselling programme, drawn up in 
conjunction with support agencies and the students' families.

Christchurch Boys' High School principal Colin Croudis said students who 
were known to be using cannabis irregularly at weekends were currently 
undergoing counselling and urine tests as part of a programme drawn up with 
their parents.

Schools stressed that decriminalisation would put pressure on their ability 
to deal with drug use.

Schools have recommended an inter-agency approach to combating drug use 
with a co-ordinated response from law enforcement agencies, community 
groups, schools, and families.
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