Pubdate: Wed, 12 Feb 2003
Source: South Whidbey Record (WA)
Copyright: 2003 South Whidbey Record
Contact:  http://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2515
Author: Gayle Saran
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SCHOOL DRUG BUSTS A GROWING TREND

Within the past three weeks, four South Whidbey High School students have 
been arrested in school for possessing illegal narcotics.

The incidents, which involved the alleged possession and use of cocaine and 
marijuana, are the latest in a school year that has seen drug busts at the 
school increase in number and frequency.

According to school officials, the 10 busts at the high school during the 
first 90 days of the school year equal the total number during the previous 
school year. Not all of the incidents occurred on school grounds, according 
to school administration.

That number compares with the 10 to 15 so far this year at Oak Harbor High 
School.

The first of the two recent incidents occurred Jan. 30. School staff 
detained two freshman girls for using what is believed to be cocaine in a 
school locker room.

"One student admitted it was cocaine and that she was using because of 
personal problems," said Jan Smith, spokeswoman for the Island County 
Sheriff's office.

Smith said the students were apparently caught in the locker room before 
class. They were released into their parents' custody. The substance was 
sent to the Washington State Patrol lab for testing.

In a more recent incident, two students were discovered in possession of 
marijuana and drug paraphernalia on Feb. 3. Smith said that the case has 
been referred to juvenile court.

School Principal Mike Johnson said that in both case students were dealt 
with according to the school's policy on substance abuse.

"The policy is students are sent home with a loss of credit," he said this 
week. "They may return after five days if they agree to drug and alcohol 
counseling."

While substance abuse cases at South Whidbey High School have occurred at 
intervals among the school's 740 students, Oak Harbor Police have had to 
deal with spurts of in-school activity among that city's 1,750 high school 
students.

John Little, the officer assigned patrolling Oak Harbor High School, the 
school recorded five substance abuse violations..

"It seems to run in spurts here," he said. "Out of the five last week, 
three admitted to using marijuana and one student was found to be using 
prescription medication."

At South Whidbey High School Island County Sheriff deputies are called when 
evidence of illegal drug possession and use is discovered.

These latest cases at South Whidbey have Mike Johnson concerned.

"It's a problem and we are working to reduce and minimize drug and 
substance abuse here," he said. "As a staff we are looking at things we can 
do to work with families and the community to address this problem."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom