Pubdate: Mon, 23 Dec 2013
Source: Journal-Pioneer, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2013 Journal-Pioneer
Contact:  http://www.journalpioneer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2789

DRUGS AND TEENS NOT JUST A POLICE ISSUE

Almost daily, the media is reporting crimes fuelled by drug addiction 
or reading court reports of someone who is in trouble with the law 
because of their drug use. One recent report is all the more 
shocking. Just last month, Prince District Joint Forces Operation 
Drug Unit arrested a 17-year-old Three Oaks student for drug 
trafficking as he was entering the Summerside school.

The arrest was the result of tips from the community that the teen 
had been selling drugs both in and outside the school. On the young 
man, police found 2.5 ounces of marijuana, a digital scale, cash, 
cellphone and packaging supplies. He now faces drug-trafficking 
charges and a potential two-year prison sentence.

Likely, for most parents and even students who heard and read the 
news, the drug bust at Three Oaks was shocking or at the very least disturbing.

Undoubtedly, there were questions parents had, many of which online 
commenters posted on the story that appeared on media websites.

Yet, the school and the board that oversees the operation of all 
English language schools had kept quiet on the issue. The school's 
principal, who was contacted a number of times for comment on the 
story, said she would be unable to do so.

And when the English Language School Board's superintendent, Cynthia 
Fleet, was questioned on the issue, she said drugs in schools is an 
issue for the police.

"Law enforcement did arrest a student and that individual has been 
charged, but that would really be a police matter to comment," said 
the superintendent.

But it is not just a police matter. Just ask the concerned parents 
who question how drugs are making it into our schools and what, if 
anything, individual schools and the school board are doing about it.

Fleet did say "communities are concerned about involvement in illicit 
drugs, use of alcohol or abuse of alcohol," adding there are school 
counsellors in place and the board is "doing our best" to work with 
addictions services.

But if a teen is being arrested inside the walls of a school, drugs 
on hand and ready to sell, it appears that counselling is not the solution.

More must be done to be proactive, to ensure that illicit drugs 
aren't, at least within our schools, getting into the hands of our 
youth. And that is in part the job of the school board, not just that 
of the police who are called in, once suspicion is raised, to make an arrest.

It is time officials within the education system admit there is a 
problem - yes, even within our schools - and do what must be done to address it.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom