Pubdate: Wed, 16 Jan 2013
Source: Coquitlam Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013Lower Mainland Publishing Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thenownews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1340
Author: Jeremy Deutsch

CARDS TARGET LEGAL AND ILLEGAL DRUGS

PoCoMo Youth Services Society Produces New Educational Tool Aimed At
Young People

Charlie, Snow and Blow. No, they're not the names of characters from a
popular movie or TV show - far from it.

They're street names for cocaine.

Though it's not always easy to get a teen's attention when it comes to
a serious topic like drugs, now all the information and warnings about
illegal substances are available through specially designed cards
produced by the PoCoMo Youth Services Society.

In all, the Tri-Cities youth outreach group has created nine cards
with information on a multitude of illegal street drugs, including
marijuana, ecstasy and mushrooms.

The society was using similar cards from the U.S., but the information
in parts was incorrect.

PoCoMo executive director Jerome Bouvier said the society Je wanted to
create cards that were both current and youth friendly, arguing the
old cards used language that was institutional.

"We wanted to do something a little different," he said, adding they
were created with input from different youth organizations in the community.

After 20 years of doing drug education, Bouvier said he noticed
traditional brochures for kids weren't exactly hot sellers.

He said the drug cards seemed to grab the attention of
kids.

"We want to get information to the hands of our young people and we
have to find unique and creative ways to do it," Bouvier said.

Besides targeting illegal drugs, the six-by-four-inch cards also offer
information about legal substances like tobacco and energy drinks.

Bouvier said PoCoMo's are the first fact cards dealing with energy
drinks, a popular beverage among teens.

"Kids are mixing energy drinks with alcohol and there are more and
more health concerns around that with our young people," he said.

Bouvier said he hopes energy drinks will be taken off regular store
shelves and put into liquor stores, but until then, he wants to put
something out there to educate kids.

The cards, which were designed by Bouvier, will be handed out through
PoCoMo's programs, including its Project Outreach Bus.

But the cards are also being made available for purchase to any
organization that might want them.

The cards can be customized with information related to each specific
organization.

Already, the Langley RCMP has ordered a batch.

Bouvier also noted the organization wants to eventually turn the cards
into business-sized items that can fit into a pocket or wallet.

Besides launching the new drug-card program, PoCoMo is also in the
midst of a name change.

The organization is holding a contest to find a new moniker for the
society.

Bouvier said a new name seems appropriate given the passing of the
society's 20th anniversary last year and the changes in direction the
organization is looking at in the coming year.

"We decided it was time for that change," he said, adding the PoCoMo
name is often confused with services related to Port Coquitlam only.

Bouvier said the organization is looking for a name that reflects its
reach beyond the Tri-Cities.

For more information on the drug cards and the PoCoMo name-change
contest go to www.pocomo.org . 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D