Pubdate: Wed, 20 Apr 2005
Source: Pipestone Flyer (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005, Pipestone Publishing, Millet, Alberta
Contact:  http://www.pipestoneflyer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3736
Author: Ted Okkerse
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG AWARENESS

On May 11th. at the Griffiths -Scott School in Millet there will be a Drug 
Awareness Session for the general public. The sessions speaker will be a 
Member of the RCMP's "K" Division. The forum is free of charge and should 
be attended by everyone who has children or grandchildren or just anyone 
who is struggling to understand our ever growing drug problem.

Anyone who has young pre-teen and teenaged children have a vested interest 
in obtaining the kind of information that will be dealt with in this very 
frank look at what is facing our youth today and the pressures they face 
from every direction to become part of this subculture of drugs, depression 
and crime.

You may say, "My child would never be part of anything like that", but be 
very aware, even your child can become entangled in this web without your 
even suspecting till it is too late.

Most of us live in the dark when it comes to drugs and what the signs are 
that a parent or grandparent should be watching out for. The best defense 
is education, not only on the part of the parent, but also on the part of 
the child.

As a parent, if you need to work out of the home, you are at an instant 
disadvantage, the more time you are able to spend with your children, the 
more secure the bond will be.

All children go through a period in their lives where rebellion in the 
norm. This is the point where parents are about as dumb as they could 
possible be. As a matter of fact, in their eyes we have absolutely no idea 
about being a teenager. Then as they get older, we seem to get smarter and 
smarter.

You need to realize that every child is vulnerable to drugs, yours, mine 
and the neighbour's. Beware of the signs of possible drug use. The user 
becomes withdrawn, appetite goes down and they lose interest in the things 
they used to be involved in. School grades start to drop and they begin to 
hang around with new and usually unsavory friends. They tend to sleep more 
than usual and tend not to eat regularly.

Once a child becomes entangled in this mess, it is very difficult to turn 
them about. You can only hope that you have given them the best possible 
defense to help them overcome addiction, and that is love, education and 
the knowledge that if and when they are ready to make the needed changes in 
their lives, you will still love them and will be there for them in any way 
possible.

Some never recover, don't let that one be yours.

The forum goes at the Griffiths-Scott School on May 11th. at 7pm.

If you need further information you may contact Sheryl at 780-387-5864
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom