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Sonoma County to use dogs to sniff for drugs in schools

By Staff Writer

As more kids turn to drugs and alcohol, school administrators are taking their own preventative measures. Recently, Sonoma County officials announced that they will be roaming through the halls of Santa Rosa schools with drug-sniffing dogs to confiscate any contraband, according to The Press Democrat. Illicit substance abuse among the young generation has spiked as of late.

Sanoma County School Superintendent Sharon Liddell told the news source that kids are becoming more comfortable with bringing drugs to school. Between last August and November, there were 199 suspensions at the local middle and high schools for drug possession. Marijuana and Ecstasy are the most commonly confiscated illicit substances.

The dogs will sniff lockers, vehicles and desks, but they are not permitted to come close to students. The patrols will occur at the discretion of school officials, as opposed to local police officers. The goal is to not suspend or expel students, but rather crack down on the growing problem and raise awareness of the dangers of drugs.

More than 29 percent of public high school students say they can easily obtain illicit substances, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Drug rehab programs can help kids who are attempting to get clean.

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