Pubdate: Thu, 13 Jan 2005
Source: Nelson Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Nelson Daily News
Contact:  http://www.nelsondailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/288
Author: Russell Barth
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

SCHOOLS MAKE DRUGS COOL

To the Editor,

Re: School drug and alcohol policy slammed by parents.

Parents are right to be slamming the failed drug policy employed not only 
in our schools, but in our whole society.  Making drugs an "evil taboo" 
just adds to it's allure and it's "cool."

By employing "just say no" propagandist slogans, and the whole we/they 
mentality of "zero-tolerance" and "all use is abuse" and "drugs are for 
losers," we have had the result of drugs being more popular with teens than 
ever before.  If you tell kids something is naughty, they can't resist 
doing it.

There is much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth when a kid uses a bit 
of pot, yet there are vending machines full of candy and caffeinated drinks 
in many schools!  Kids are not stupid.  They see the absurdity and 
hypocrisy of Canada's drug laws.

Canadian schools should employ a straightforward, honest, and 
scientifically based education program designed to help kids make 
responsible choices about drugs.  Viewing the Educators For Sensible Drug 
Policy website www.efsdp.org could be a good start.  Once we arm kids with 
knowledge, they are more likely to make responsible choices, and the ones 
that don't should have the issue treated as a medical issue, not as a 
punitive discipline issue.

Whether in school or in everyday society, if prohibition were going to 
work, it would have worked by now.

Russell Barth, Educators For Sensible Drug Policy, Ottawa, Ontario
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