Pubdate: Wed, 14 Nov 2012
Source: Richmond Review, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/P92NTYdG
Website: http://drugsense.org/url/WcGUPNub
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/704
Author: Martin van den Hemel

Addiction Awareness

VIDEO CONTEST TO PUT ECSTASY PITFALLS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Richmond youth created videos to raise awareness about the impact of 
ecstasy use on individuals, families and the community, as part of 
the X-Press Youth Video Contest.

And now the city's being invited to check them out.

Organized by the City of Richmond and Richmond Addictions Services, 
the contest culminates on Friday, Nov. 23 at Richmond City Hall, 
during the Youth Red Carpet Viewing Party when the contest winners 
will be announced, including the winner of the $500 top prize.

Local addiction specialists from Richmond Addiction Services have 
presented 23 information sessions to students at Richmond secondary 
schools, community centres and through local service providers.

More than 500 students have been informed of the potential risks and 
dangers of ecstasy, in the context of health-and-wellness concerns 
associated with the use of alcohol and drugs.

Following these sessions, students were invited to participate in the 
contest, which is presented by Richmond Addictions Services, Richmond 
Youth Media Program and the Richmond RCMP.

Students were helped in making their videos by the city's media 
program, which provided access to video equipment and video skills workshops.

A specially-funded project of the Richmond Media Lab, the X-Press 
Youth Video Contest is designed to generate youth-focussed and 
youth-created messages about the dangers of ecstasy.

The new videos will be used as a resource that will be deployed in 
classrooms, community-based organizations focusing on youth, and in 
the community as a whole.

Funding was received from proceeds of B.C. Civil Forfeiture, which 
came into effect in 2006 with the goal of targetting the profit 
motive behind illegal activities. Proceeds from the sale of property 
believed to be instruments or proceeds of unlawful activities, like 
cars, houses and boats, are paid into a special account to be used 
for, among other things, the prevention and remediation of crime.

The Richmond Youth Media program is a partnership between the City of 
Richmond and the Richmond Collaborative Committee for Children and Youth.

For more information about the media program, visit 
www.richmond.ca/medialab , or to learn about the X-Press Youth Video 
Contest, visit www.richmondaddictions.ca/xpress .
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom