Pubdate: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 Source: Okotoks Western Wheel (CN AB) Copyright: 2007, Okotoks Western Wheel Contact: http://www.westernwheel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1638 Author: John Barlow PARENTS ARE FOCUS OF DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM "Crack cocaine and ecstasy is very different from what we are used to seeing. I was shocked that most schools have seen these drugs. Things are scarier now." - -- Laurie Vanoni, family liaison counselor Foothills Composite High School Like fashion, there are always trends when it comes to drug use, but counselors are concerned this latest runway leads to a dead end. While alcohol and marijuana are still the most common drugs of choice for youth there is an alarming trend among local teens who are turning to more hardcore drugs such as crack cocaine and ecstasy. As a result, four community groups have banded together to organize a Parent Drug Awareness program that will provide parents with information and resources to address drug use with their children. The event will be held on Jan. 23 at the small gym at Foothills Composite High School from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The program will include information from the Okotoks Healthy Family Resource Centre, the local RCMP, school counselors and AADAC. While the goal of the program is to prevent drug use among youth, Joanne Dzurka of the Okotoks Healthy Family Resource Centre, said parents are an integral tool in the fight against drug abuse. "I think parents have always had concerns," said Dzurka. "But we are getting more calls about what kids are getting into and what they can do to help." Laurie Vanoni, a family liaison counselor at Foothills Composite High School, said drug use is popping up in schools across Okotoks, not just the high schools. As a result, parents need to be made aware of what is happening and what they can do to help. "Most parents don't know much about it," said Vanoni of the prevalent drug use. "When we do deal with it it seems we are always trying to catch when the kids are already dealing with drugs. "This time we want to give parents strategies to get their kids to start thinking about not using drugs." Although whether or not their children are experimenting with drugs is a concern with most parents, what drugs they are choosing is almost more of a concern. Vanoni said she does not know if drug use is on the rise in Okotoks, but the types of drugs teens are using seems to be changing. "Crack cocaine and ecstasy is very different from what we are used to seeing," she said. "I was shocked that most schools have seen these drugs. Things are scarier now." Cheryl Houtekamer, community programs supervisor for AADAC, will be speaking in Okotoks and she said the drugs of choice have not changed, but she added more dangerous drugs such as cocaine are becoming more accessible to young people. Houtekamer said 75 per cent of high school students will try alcohol and 36 per cent will experiment with marijuana and only two or three per cent will try cocaine. However, it does not mean parents should not be aware of the issues surrounding trends in drug use. "We have to be attentive to everything," said Houtekamer. "There are a small number who will try cocaine so we cannot forget the ones students are likely to try like alcohol and marijuana. But we still have to discuss drugs beyond marijuana and alcohol." At the Parent Drug Awareness evening speakers will provide parents with the tools and resources to broach the issue of drug use with their children. "Parents often feel if their children refuse help there is nothing they can do," said Dzurka. "But parents can get help. We want to give them the tools to open the lines of communication. We want to give them the message that there are things they can do." Houtekamer said organizing an evening for parents rather than youth is another means of developing a multi-faceted approaching in dealing with drug use. "This is for parents with a view at prevention," she explained. "This is for parents who think their child may experiment with drugs or is involved in drug use. We want to cover the whole gamut. "We want the parents to go home with good ideas on how to broach the subject." The Parent Drug Awareness evening is open to anyone who wishes to attend. Presentations will be made by AADAC and Const. Geoff Carpenter of the Okotoks RCMP. In addition, there will be booths set up with tools, resources and other information relating to drugs and drug use. For more information contact Joanne Dzurka at the Okotoks Healthy Family Resource Centre at 995-2626 - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine