Pubdate: Tue, 17 May 2005
Source: Ladysmith-Chemanius Chronicle (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 BC Newspaper Group & New Media
Contact:  http://www.ladysmithchronicle.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1279

LADYSMITH TO HOST FORUM ON DRUG, ALCOHOL AWARENESS

Nanaimo RCMP Constable Beth Blackburn will be speaking to students tomorrow 
at Ladysmith Secondary.

Getting drunk, throwing up and feeling like hell in the morning used to be 
a rite of passage for a few teenagers, who tended learned their lesson. 
These days, police say binge drinking among young people is becoming a 
life-threatening problem.

"Kids are not learning to drink responsibly. We are seeing a lot of 
overindulgence, and with that judgement goes out the window," said Const. 
Beth Blackburn, the RCMP's drug awareness coordinator from the Nanaimo 
detachment.

"Kids are drinking to the point of blacking out, or engaging in risky 
sexual behaviour. What we would like to see is kids making good choices."

Blackburn will be speaking at "Drug Talk 101: Talking to Your Adolescent 
about Drugs and Alcohol" at Ladysmith Secondary on Wednesday evening, 
sponsored by the Ladysmith Resource Centre and the Vancouver Island Health 
Authority.

Much of the talk will focus on younger kids who may be experimenting with 
pot, beer and cigarettes for the first time. Typically, teens aren't out 
using serious drugs like meth or heroin, Blackburn noted, but are trying 
legal (or tolerated) substances.

"A 13-year-old won't be using meth. They will likely try drinking or 
smoking pot," she said. "Sometimes this leads to abuse. More than 80 per 
cent of RCMP calls come back to alcohol."

She said current alcohol marketing practices aren't helping, pointing out 
new beers like Molson's "Kick" which is laced with caffeine. She argues 
people can drink faster with an initial caffeine jolt before the depressing 
effects of alcohol kick in.

"What are we thinking selling this stuff? It's ridiculous."

Kim Chadwick, a drug counsellor for the Resource Centre, said while 
chemical drugs are frightening and are certainly deadly, relatively few 
kids are using.

"We need to be looking at the majority of the kids," she said. 
"Statistically, alcohol and related problems are the No. 1 killer."

The drug talk won't just be another lecture on the ills of drinking, 
Chadwick noted.

Ladysmith Youth Council kids will be putting on a "Drug and Alcohol 
Jeopardy" game with a few unsuspecting parents. Also, a swath of drug 
counsellors, police and mental health workers will be on hand for parents 
to pepper with questions.

"Drug Talk 101: Talking to Your Adolescent about Drugs and Alcohol" will be 
from 6:45-9 p.m. in the LSS multipurpose room.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman