Pubdate: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 Source: Parry Sound North Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2001, Parry Sound North Star Contact: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1618 Website: http://www.parrysound.com Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) HEALTH UNITS KICK OFF DRUG AWARENESS WEEK PARRY SOUND -- This year's Drug Awareness Week runs November 19-24. During this week the RISK Project of Muskoka-Parry Sound, the Muskoka-Parry Sound Health Unit, and a number of community partners are taking part in activities to inform people about how to reduce the risk of alcohol-related problems and injuries. In Muskoka, Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) groups at Huntsville and Gravenhurst High Schools are delivering anti-impaired driving messages to fellow students through displays and other inter-active activities. At Almaguin Highlands Secondary School in East Parry Sound, OSAID is sponsoring a guest speaker who will talk at a school assembly about decision-making and impaired driving. Several local cable stations are running a 20-minute video called "For the Record" during their community programming hour. This video, produced by the Ontario Drug Awareness Partnership and PAD Drug Education and Support Services, is the story of a group of young adults at an after-grad party and their reaction to one of their friends who ends up with alcohol poisoning. This video is geared to young adults and raises the serious issues of binge drinking and alcohol poisoning. During Drug Awareness Week, RISK is distributing its second issue of "Health Wise", a free newsletter for older adults that deals with prescription medication and alcohol use. This topic of this issue is the use of herbal remedies. "Health Wise" comes out three times a year and is distributed throughout Muskoka-Parry Sound to seniors' clubs, retirement homes, libraries, pharmacies and hospitals. Drug Awareness Week will also see the launch of a media campaign that runs through until the middle of December. The campaign consists of newspaper and radio ads and press releases that provide useful information about the ways to reduce the risk of injury or harm from drinking alcohol. RISK is a substance abuse and injury prevention program funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care through the Muskoka-Parry Sound Health Unit and community partners. Using the slogan "Reduce It", RISK's goal is to reduce the problems and injuries associated with alcohol and other drug use in Muskoka-Parry Sound. Drug Awareness Week is just one of the many initiatives and activities undertaken by RISK. For more information contact Megan Williams at the Muskoka-Parry Sound Health Unit, 789-8813. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl