Pubdate: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 The Morning Star Contact: http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352 Author: Jennifer Dyck SERIES SHEDS LIGHT ON SUBSTANCE USE Whether a student is smoking marijuana on a regular basis or turning to cocaine for an increased high, drug abuse is dealt with regularly in North Okanagan schools. And it's not just drugs, but often a combination of drug and alcohol use that some students are involved in, said Doug Rogers, Vernon School District substance abuse prevention counsellor. While the schools try to do their part in educating all students about drugs and alcohol, sometimes it's not enough. So to help spread the education even further into society a free Substance Abuse Awareness Series for the public is beginning Tuesday at Vernon Secondary at 7 p.m. "The way to get rid of it and reduce it is to educate," said Rogers. The series is open to the public but Rogers particularly encourages parents to attend as they are the ones who are with their children the majority of the time and can have a huge impact on the decisions their kids make. "What a lot of people don't realize is we (the schools) only have the kids nine per cent of the time, 91 per cent of the time they're with you." As educators in the home, Rogers reminds that parents themselves should be educated with up-to-date information, instead of some of the dated information about drugs and alcohol they learned back when they were in school. The presentations will also be a place people can seek help, whether for their children or themselves. To help update the public, Dr. Chris Cunningham, emergency room physician and president of Vernon Jubilee Hospital medical staff, will be speaking on some of the general aspects of drug use Tuesday. "I will give a perspective from my experience as an emergency physician treating those patients presenting to the ER department," said Cunningham, who may also share experiences of cases. Although he is a busy man, Cunningham is volunteering his time for the series. "This is important to me, as a parent and a physician. I believe it is important to educate parents and adolescents of the negative aspects of drug use in our community." Continuing the series at a later date, Betty Keding, concurrent disorders therapist with the Interior Health Authority, will be speaking at Charles Bloom Secondary. Keding will be sharing information on how mental illness can be related to substance abuse and vice versa. "It's hard to tell whether it's mental illness that's first, for example someone who starts drinking to control their illness, or whether someone started smoking pot and bipolar kicked in," said Keding. Const. Brian Evans with the Vernon RCMP drug task force will also be speaking for the third part of the Substance Abuse Awareness Series. For more information contact Rogers at 549-6179. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman