Pubdate: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 Source: Powell River Peak (CN BC) Copyright: 2001 Peak Publishing Ltd. Contact: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1998 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/734 Author: Isabelle Southcott LEARNING TO SAY NO Thomas Archibald [left] and Alex Lewis are two of many students in Jill Brewer's grade four and five class at Grief Point Elementary School who created messages on bags for Drug Awareness Week, available for Safeway customers later this month. Awareness week highlights what children can do to resist drugs and alcohol. Those involved in drug and alcohol awareness agree that education is an important component when it comes to learning how to say no and coping with peer pressure. Provincial statistics show that 10 per cent of the population is addicted to drugs and alcohol and another 10 per cent struggle with abuse. Children are experimenting with drugs and alcohol at an earlier age, said Susan Hill, drug and alcohol prevention coordinator for School District 47 and the community. "The average age for trying tobacco is 11," said Hill. "It's important that students learn skills to refuse and how to cope with peer pressure." November 19 to 25 is drug and alcohol awareness week in Powell River, and Monday, November 26, is the date for a drug and alcohol awareness fair and evening at Oceanview Middle School. Various activities will be taking place in schools and in the community to help educate students about drugs this week. Elementary school students in the district have been busy working on the Safeway brown bag program. Students colour or paint logos and messages about alcohol and drug awareness on bags, which are returned to the store for distribution. "I have a hard time giving some of them back," said Hill, who still can't get over what a great job the students do on the bags. "The bags are just awesome." Bulletin boards are decorated with positive health messages at elementary schools. Students at Oceanview Middle School will perform skits during the week. "We do role playing to teach the younger students how to be assertive when refusing drugs and alcohol." A poster contest will also be held, with the theme of how to refuse drugs and alcohol. Posters will be put on display in the public library. A carnival geared toward grade-eight students will be held at Oceanview on Monday, November 26, from 8:45 am to 11:15 am and again from 11:45 am to 2:15 pm. There will be game booths, minigolf, a roulette wheel, and the RCMP will be there with their impaired-vision goggles. The Powell River Kings will also be at the fair, with a hockey shoot. "We try to make it fun but informative," said Hill. Motivational speaker Norbert Georget is the guest speaker scheduled to talk to high school students about drug and alcohol awareness, and Westview Learning Centre will have guest speakers from Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous to kick off the week. A table will be set up in the Town Centre Mall outside Bootleggers that will contain information brochures and other handouts that the public are encouraged to pick up. The Powell River District Public Library will display books and videos on drug awareness. Posters created by elementary school students who participated in a contest sponsored by McDonald's will be on display at the restaurant. New Life Counselling Service will hold a loonie swim beginning at 7 pm on Friday, November 23 at the Powell River Recreation Complex. Marching for awareness Sliammon's third annual drug awareness march leaves the health centre in Sliammon at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, November 21. The number of participants has been growing steadily every year said Gerald Blaney, a drug and alcohol counsellor for Sliammon. Last year 110 people joined in the march. Cindy Smith, a drug and alcohol counsellor for Sliammon, said "We want people to participate in addiction awareness. Just because you're a social drinker doesn't mean you can't be involved." Blaney said elders and parents in Sliammon are concerned over the "easy access" to drugs in the community. Both he and Smith believe that awareness, education, and communication are necessary if change is to be achieved. A number of services including addiction treatment information is available through the Sliammon addiction program, which Smith said is an outreach type of service. "We offer one-on-one counselling and referrals. We also provide health activities education, awareness, and prevention." An evening of drug and alcohol information for parents will be held on Monday, November 26, at Oceanview Middle School, and transportation is available for members of Sliammon First Nation who wish to attend. People can contact Blaney or Smith through Sliammon Health to arrange transportation. - --------------------------------------------------------- LEADING THE WAY November 20, 2001 A drug and alcohol awareness education evening will be held for parents and other interested people on Monday, November 26, at Oceanview Middle School. Sponsored by LEAD(Let's Educate Against Drugs)the evening gets underway at 7 pm. The LEAD committee is made up of professionals and concerned parents from the community. This year, two Vancouver city police officers will be featured. The officers were instrumental in the production of the award-winning documentary, Through a Blue Lens, which focusses on the lives of addicts. Toby Hinton and Al Arsenault will present a powerful message that will inform parents about the perils of life in the downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Coroner Stewart Alsgard is scheduled to be a guest speaker during the evening, along with a mother who lost a child to drug addiction. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart