Pubdate: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 Source: Advertiser, The (Australia) HELP US COPE WITH DRUGS IN SCHOOLS STUDENTS as young as 11 are attending school under the influence of illegal drugs, according to teachers. WHILE emphasising such incidents are rare, they say that in some cases students are suffering from high anxiety and missing classes as a result. The revelation came as the South Australian Primary Principals Association yesterday made a "desperate" plea for an increase in the number of counsellors for primary schools. Only 90 of the State's 400 primary schools have counsellors. The association's president, Ms Leonie Trimper, said staff were increasingly encountering students and families experiencing serious social problems such as drugs, breakdowns and financial hardship. Schools needed trained counsellors to educate students about these issues. "Primary school counsellors can take on a preventative role, which is beneficial to the community," Ms Trimper said. The community should not shy away from the issue of drugs. "We, at primary schools, cannot put our heads in the sand and say our students are too young, even though there are only isolated incidents we are dealing with," Ms Trimper said. "Students live in an environment where people are taking drugs. If it's not in their immediate home then it could be at a relative's or neighbor's home." The president of the SA Primary School Counsellors Association, Mrs Mignon Souter, said: "Children are confused about the messages they are getting. "One message is that drugs are not good yet mum and dad or an uncle or friend are smoking it or growing it. "We need drug education programs right through primary schools and more counsellors." Cowandilla Primary School counsellor Mr Steve Medhurst said that for some students, drugs were part of their culture because they were prevalent in the home. "They have access to it and sometimes it comes to the school," he said. The Education Minister, Mr Buckby, said a strategy was being devised to tackle the drug problem in schools and the community. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck