Pubdate: Fri, 21 Oct 2005
Source: Red Deer Advocate (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Red Deer Advocate
Contact:  http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2492
Author: Laura Tester

SCARED STRAIGHT: YOUTHS RECEIVE HARSH LESSONS ON DRUG, BOOZE USE

The recorded screams of a girl moments before she was killed in a 
crash struck a nerve inside a high school gym on Thursday.

Damian Logan, 15, and Corey Rafuse, 16, were deeply moved by the 
audio played at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School. The girl 
died after her drunk boyfriend crashed the car they were in at 
breakneck speeds.

"That girl screaming in the car accident really got underneath my 
skin," said Rafuse.

"I just shivered," added Logan.

"I liked the (recorded conversations) of the parents when they find 
out their child was in a car accident," said Sarah Smith, 16.

Logan, Rafuse and Smith were among several hundred students who 
listened to Norbert Georget's Smart Youth Power Assembly presentation.

The former paramedic from Saskatoon was visiting several high schools 
on Thursday and today to drive home a powerful message about the 
dangers of drugs and alcohol.

With the use of shocking real videos and personal experiences, 
Georget kept the young crowd's attention riveted throughout the 
hour-long presentation.

He tells them how one person dies every week in downtown Vancouver 
because of the highly addictive drug crystal meth. Then a mother on 
the large screen gives an anguishing story of losing her 19-year-old 
Ryan to the drug.

Ryan leaves a message on his mother's answering machine, which is 
played for the students. It is largely inaudible, except for the 
words "I love you."

Days later he commits suicide by doing a swan dive off a bridge.

Georget said that for every five hours in Canada, there are parents 
being told that their child is dead due to drugs and/or alcohol. In 
Alberta, it's an average of every six days.

He then tells the story of Jerry Craig Hallett, who attended his 
presentation a few years ago. The sunglassed teen gave Georget a hard 
time, laughing amongst his friends.

Nearly two years later on Nov. 6, 2004, Hallett died in a crash 
involving drugs and alcohol. He was only 17.

"He was a nice kid, but he just didn't get it," Georget said.

Georget later showed some graphic photos of a young car crash victim 
in the passenger seat, his mouth wide open.

Georget said he doesn't want to see other young people end up the 
same way. With the help of a Lindsay Thurber volunteer, he opens up a 
used black body bag.

"This is the last place I want to see you," he said.

Logan was convinced by Georget's hardhitting message.

"It makes me think twice about my actions and what I would do on the 
weekend," he said.