Who does, doesn't do drugs

The recent bout of marijuana busts in Stanislaus County have raised questions and remarks about the presence of drugs in schools in the community.

As a student at Johansen High School, I know that drugs are a prevalent in our community as a whole and unfortunately they are also present in high schools. However, the suggestion that only five students in a school of about 1,800 don't smoke pot ("Question of the Week," Buzzz, Sept. 13) is at best naive and at worst ignorant.

Making conclusions not backed by facts only leads to marginalizing good work done to address the issue. Students may have access to drugs, but not all of them actually use them. People from all walks of life use drugs. They are a cross- section of socioeconomic groups, ethnic groups, age groups and religions.

Drugs have been a problem in schools for decades and school administrators and teachers work hard to suppress their presence, but we have to accept that there is no way to completely remove this problem. I believe that we should all work together to educate people about drugs and the dangers of drug dependence.

MADELAINE SPIERING

Johansen High School Associated Student Body president

Modesto