Pubdate: Fri, 17 Apr 2009
Source: Coronach Triangle News (SN)
Contact:  2009 Transcontinental Inc.
Website: http://www.sasknewsnow.com/index.cfm?sc=429
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5029
Author: Kelly Elder
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

IT'S ALL ABOUT CHOICES!

Drug/Alcohol presentation at the Coronach School

Kerry Johnson, a teacher from Central Collegiate in Moose Jaw, spread his
message of choices to the high school students at the Coronach School on
April 7.

Students sat on the gym floor as Johnson shared his knowledge of alcohol
and drug use and its dangers.

Students listened quietly as Johnson chatted while showing images on the
screen. Johnson created the slide show with assistance of the RCMP and
their headquarters in Ottawa.

Johnson talked about his message . "It's all about choices. You decide
what goes in your body. Nobody makes those choices for you." he said.

"This is not one of those, "Don't Do!" type of presentations." said
Johnson. "Education is the key to making informed choices. If the students
have a better knowledge of the consequences of their actions, they will
hopefully make the responsible choice."

The students laughed when Johnson talked about drunken behavior but were
quickly quieted by the harsh realities of overindulging.

Johnson, a history and law teacher, has been giving presentations across
Saskatchewan for the past six years. His interest in presenting began
after attending a session at a Police Standard Field Sobriety Training
Workshop.

Johnson had been invited to the workshop by childhood friend Sergeant Evan
Graham, National Coordinator of the RCMP Drug Evaluation Classification
Program.

Johnson explained that he "was hooked" after this workshop. He explained
that during his 24 years of teaching he encountered many staff members
that didn't feel they were equipped to recognize alcohol or drug abuse.

Johnson felt this was a way to arm teachers and school staff with the
skills they needed to help students.

Johnson's presentations include individual staffs, support staffs, and
parent groups within and outside the Prairie South school division.

The afternoon presentation was open to the public, but there were no
parents or community members present. Johnson said, "I think parents think
if they attend these types of events, people will think that they have a
problem and will be branded that way." Johnson hopes to return to the
community to do an evening presentation for parents in Coronach.

"I do like to stress the fact that just because a parent attends one of
these sessions does not make one automatically assume their child has a
drug problem." said Johnson. He explained that his workshops help parents
recognize if their child is using drugs and more importantly the knowledge
to sit down with their child and discuss the issue."

"(Drugs and alcohol) are readily available and it is a concern everywhere.
The younger (drug dealers) can get them the better," said Johnson.

"Kids are growing up so fast," said Johnson. "Small towns will party a
little harder 'cause sometimes there is nothing else to do."

Johnson also talked about the boom and the amount of money that can be
made by young people. "Drugs are everywhere and drug dealers go where
there is money", said Johnson and then he added, "People in high pressure
jobs look for that release."

He also talked about workers who resort to drugs to allow them to work
more hours to make more money.

Kordell Allan, Grade 9 student from Coronach, thought the presentation was
good. "It was pretty good. He was one of the better speakers we have had I
think. He's kinda precise about what is in (the drugs) and what it will do
to you." said Allan.

Allan and his classmates discussed the presentation in the classroom after
it was over. "I think it changed some people's perspectives." he said.
Allan thought that everyone in his class enjoyed the presentation.

Johnson's job allows him to give five such presentations in the schools
during each school year.