Pubdate: Thu, 22 Jan 2009
Source: Prairie Post West (CN AB)
Copyright: 2009 Prairie Post West
Contact:  http://www.prairiepost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4428
Author: by Susan Quinlan

NEW DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM LAUNCHED BY AADAC AND RCMP

Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse 
Commission (AADAC), together with the RCMP, recently announced the 
launch of a new prevention program called Kids and Drugs - A Parent's 
Guide to Prevention. The program is intended to assist parents and 
other concerned adults in helping school age children avoid alcohol 
and drug abuse. Kathie Gavin, prevention co-ordinator for AADAC, says 
the new program goes beyond the basic drug education provided to 
parents in the past, addressing important protective factors for 
youth including effective parenting practices.

"In the past, when parents asked about drug information sessions we 
would give them the good, bad and ugly ... The new program broadens 
the scope of parents' understanding. It's about giving your kids 
confidence, having open communication and giving them support," says Gavin.

Content of the program is built on known factors that prevent 
substance abuse, says Gavin, like improved communication, support, 
decision-making and discipline.

The programs four core areas examine the importance of parental role 
modeling, enhancing communication skills, decision making, and the 
final area, "What parents need to know about drugs." This final 
workshop provides information on commonly used drugs and their risks, 
as well as reasons why kids use drugs and the signs and symptoms of a 
developing problem.

Gavin says different substances are used according to different 
trends, but a constant remains in that tobacco, alcohol and marijuana 
are the most likely drugs of choice.

"Other illicit drugs are small in number with regard to use by young 
people. The really common ones are right in front of us, ingrained in 
our culture. We need to talk about prevention with consideration of 
all the substances we use in our culture, and develop some respectful 
attitudes about that."

Gavin says prevention is a long-term investment, and it's an 
important one that involves consideration of cultural values, 
attitudes and norms.

The focus of the new program is on prevention, not on intervention or 
treatment, says Gavin, so the program's workshops are designed for 
families where there is no significant problem already.

Gavin says input into the new program was gathered from addictions, 
enforcement and educational specialists then piloted at six sites 
across Canada. Through formative evaluation, Gavin explains that 
certain aspects of the program were then revised. For example, 
because one of the objectives was to give communities flexibility in 
when and how they offer the program, suggestions like offering it at 
work sites or through school councils was incorporated into the 
program's design.

The Kids and Drugs prevention program was developed over a three year 
period by AADAC and the RCMP, says Gavin, and replaces an earlier 
RCMP program called Two Way Street.

For more information about the program, including a free download of 
the parent's booklet, go to http://www.aadac.com/565_502.asp . The 
AADAC website also contains a parent information series, addressing 
prevention, intervention and treatment of substance abuse in youth 
(http://www.aadac.com/). AADAC can also be reached toll free; 1-866-332-2322.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart