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Expulsion not the answer to school drug use Taryn Davis City News Sunday 08 May 2011 Director of Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre Professor Jake Najman said one in three young people try cannabis and expelling students could have long term consequences. "These figures are the real tip of the iceberg," Prof Najman said. "Punishing or expelling students certainly isn’t helpful, an educational alternative is preferable." "The annual figures being tabled in State Parliament this week show a 35 per cent increase in the number of students being suspended or expelled for drug possession in Queensland schools last year." Education Minister Cameron Dick said the percentage of students caught with drugs was low with 682 cases from 486,000 students, and it was predominantly cannabis. Prof Najman said figures indicated cannabis use had dropped sharply and it should be treated as a health issue instead of a criminal issue. "The idea is to think of cannabis in much the same way we do tobacco or binge drinking. "It's not good for their health in the way that smoking tobacco or binge drinking is not good for your health." Prof Najman said a lifestyle program should be incorporated in Queensland curriculum, educating students on substance abuse, smoking, binge drinking and unhealthy foods. "The best figures indicate one third of young people will use cannabis. "But what are they going to do, expel one-third of their students?" "For many young people it's a point in their life, and they stop using in their own time. "Sometimes the best thing we can do is encourage them to stop using." http://city-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/expulsion-not-the-answer-to-school-drug-use/
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