Pubdate: Fri, 04 Mar 2005
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Copyright: 2005 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: Tim Switzer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DAD WARNS OF DRUG ABUSE DANGERS

Motivational speaker John Watson doesn't do his job only to teach children 
about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, it's also to help himself heal and 
stay connected with his son.

On Feb. 27, 2004 John and his wife Wanda were startled by a morning phone 
call to tell them their son, 20-year-old Jimmy Dean, had fallen into an 
ecstasy-induced coma. Eight hours later, Jimmy Dean passed away because of 
swelling to the brain.

Now, just over a year later, Watson has spent the last seven months 
teaching kids about the dangers of addictions -- particularly those of 
alcohol, ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine.

"I decided on my birthday last year that I couldn't live without Jimmy Dean 
unless I was going to do something to help him. How could I work with him? 
How could I keep him close?" said Watson before speaking to students at the 
Nakoda Oyade Education Centre (NOEC) on the Carry the Kettle First Nation.

"There isn't anything else you can do in life that would be more rewarding 
than work with your child that you have lost. I keep him close to me 
everyday. When I travel sometimes I'll stop and I'll cry and be lonesome 
and after that, I'm OK, I'm ready to go on.

"It's been a really difficult journey for me so far but it seems to be 
getting better," he continued. "Because now I realize I'm not the only one. 
There's a lot of other people out there working with crystal meth and 
ecstasy and realizing that our children are dying from it."

Watson spoke to students and other visitors at NOEC's crystal meth and 
addictive substances seminar, "Bright Future . . . Positive Choices."

School principal Peter Moreau said while there's little drug activity in 
his school, crystal meth's presence in the province prompted him to 
organize the event.

"I had seen crystal meth starting to edge into the northwest part of the 
province in my position last year and I would rather take a preventative 
approach than a role of having to deal with the problems that arise from 
the drug," he said.

Thursday's presentation also featured Saskatoon Northwest MLA Ted Merriman 
whose daughter Kelly is a recovering alcoholic and crystal meth addict.

Katie Saulteaux, an 11-year-old Grade 6 student at the school, said she was 
convinced to stay away from drugs after listening to Watson and Merriman speak.

"I didn't know much about it but after listening to them it's really bad 
and people shouldn't do it," she said.

Eighteen-year-old Anthony Eashappie said hearing from people like Watson 
makes the message louder.

"It comes across more to me when someone has went through it," he explained.

"It's really devastating and you know you've got to keep away from that 
stuff when that kind of stuff happens to other people. It can happen and is 
has happened."

Watson said with reactions from young people like that he plans to keep 
doing this with his son alongside.

"Some of them come right up to you in tears saying, 'Thank you. You must be 
a good strong dad to come and talk for your son here,'" he said.

"When you have lost a son that you loved, that you enjoyed being with -- 
when that's taken from you by drugs, you need to take a second look at life 
and what's your purpose here. I think my purpose -- when I sobered up 24 
years ago I made my prayer to work with young people and it is answered today."
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MAP posted-by: Beth