OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT SAFE FROM DRUG THREAT

Halton Regional Police and the region's two school boards should be
congratulated for their drug education workshop Friday.

Considering the magnitude of the problem, it's refreshing to see the school
boards co-operating on the task of protecting our youngsters from drug abuse.

A survey presented at the workshop indicated 70 per cent of students from
grade 7 to OAC used an illegal drug in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Clearly, our students aren't safe from the threat of illegal drugs while
attending school. And that's wrong.

Under the Ontario Education Act, school boards across the province have now
adopted a zero tolerance for drugs in their schools.

Selling or possessing alcohol or drugs on school property now results in
immediate lengthy expulsions.

And parents must become involved. They must talk to their kids and know who
their friends are and what they're doing. They must also set examples for
their children to follow.

The risks are too high to leave it up to someone else.