Pubdate: Sun, 13 Apr 2008
Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 Quesnel Cariboo Observer
Contact:  http://www.quesnelobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1260
Author: David Gill
Note: David Gill is a Grade 12 student in Writing 12 at Correlieu secondary.

DRUG PROBLEM FESTERS IN SOCIETY

If I could change anything about Quesnel, it would be the drug 
problem that exists amongst our youth, which destroys the fabric of society.

It ruins schools, families, and respect. I know of students who 
participate in hard-core drugs and it hurts everybody around them. 
The best way to change this atmosphere is prevention, rehabilitation, 
and punishment.

Two youth I know are actually out of school and I have seen the 
heightened depravity of their actions. I have contacted them and they 
are down south, both thinking that drugs like marijuana is "just weed."

The effect these youth have on society itself is like a cancer that spreads.

After seeing them, I see some of the immorality of youth in society. 
The day after the school dance I heard students were high on ecstasy, 
marijuana, and some were drunk. The fact these students were saying 
this out in the open for everyone to hear was disturbing. There are 
absolutely no social consequences to them by the student body. The 
student body seems not to care about the bad apples; they just let it fester.

The only way to change the use of drugs among our youth is through 
prevention, intervention, and punishment.

For prevention, schools need to be more involved with children. All 
students need to be in two mandatory extra-curricular activities and 
could include:

theater, sports, chess club, or even leadership. The main concept is 
to get kids active and not have them have too much free time. The 
D.A.R.E. and Party programs are not offered to all students and they 
need to be to help them deal with peer pressure.

Intervention is important. When it becomes apparent a child is on 
drugs, then a principal, parent, RCMP officer, and drug user need to 
sit down and talk about the real life consequences.

When talking stops working, the school needs to show their authority. 
I think two weeks of 7:15 a.m. detentions for users should be 
mandatory and sellers should be expelled.

Drugs truly are Quesnel's worst problem and one I would like to see 
change. It would give children a new chance at something better, so 
they can succeed in life.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom