Pubdate: Thu, 14 Aug 2014
Source: Standard, The (St. Catharines, CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 St. Catharines Standard
Contact: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/letters
Website: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/676
Author: Maryanne Firth
Page: A8

MINISTER OFFERS MONEY TO FIGHT DRUG USE

Ottawa Funds Anti-Drug Strategy for Students in Grade 4 Through 12

The federal government has committed more than $511,000 to help 
prevent drug use among francophone youth in Niagara, Hamilton and Burlington.

Minister of Public Works and Government Services Diane Finley 
announced the funding Wednesday at Centre de sante Communautaire 
Hamilton/Niagara in Welland.

The investment, divided over four years, was made under the 
government's National Anti-Drug Strategy and will support the C'est 
Mon Choix! (It's My Choice!) project, which will establish 
educational workshops on drug prevention in 17 elementary and 
secondary schools. The program will focus on students in Grade 4 to 12.

"This will allow us to best protect our most valuable resource," 
Finley said, speaking about the impact the program is expected to 
have on Ontario's youth.

Work to get the project underway began in the spring, Jeanne Schmidt, 
the centre's director of health and wellness, said. Roundtable 
discussions were held with more than 100 teens, and consulting 
committees were created to determine the most effective way to roll 
out C'est Mon Choix!

Surveys were conducted to learn more about teen drug use in the 
Niagara, Hamilton and Burlington areas.

Schmidt was impressed by the honesty of participants, but shocked by 
the results as several teens admitted to having been introduced to 
marijuana by their parents, among other sources.

A recent study, she said, shows that one-third of Niagara and 
Hamilton youths in Grades 7 to 12 have used marijuana. These results, 
she added, make it that much more important for a community anti-drug 
strategy to be in place.

C'est Mon Choix is expected to launch in schools in October.

The funds announced Wednesday are part of a $16.1-million commitment 
the government made earlier this year to support 34 drug prevention 
projects under the Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund.

The initiative, geared at ages 10 to 24, is meant to help young 
people make informed decisions about illicit drug use and ultimately 
reduce risk-taking behaviours.

It's also meant to help strengthen the ability of communities to get 
involved and prevent drug use before it happens.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom