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
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MAP posted-by: Elaine