Pubdate: Tue, 21 Feb 2017
Source: Kingston Whig-Standard (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Sun Media
Contact: http://www.thewhig.com/letters
Website: http://www.thewhig.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/224
Author: Julia McKay
Page: A2

SPEAKER DEALS WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION

In the age where teenagers are recording and sharing everything on
social media, Dr. Matt Bellace is trying to help educate families on
substance abuse prevention.

Students at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, and their parents, 
will have the opportunity to attend a free program Tuesday called 
"Natural Highs: Supporting Teens in Making Healthy Choices" given by 
Bellace.

Bellace, a psychologist and comedian, has more than 20 years'
experience in substance abuse prevention.

"My theme is a better high," Bellace said. "It's all about natural
highs and science behind them. I've taken the message I've been giving
students at assemblies and adapted it to parents to encourage them to
support their teens in pursuing a better high, but also being there in
general. In the last 21 years there have been tremendous advancements
in our understanding of brain development and I felt like I'm the
right person to share that with parents."

The goal of Bellace's program is to offer support to parents of
teenagers and provide tools and ideas on ways to redirect negative
behaviour and keep the lines of communication open.

"Specifically, it will present techniques such as mindfulness
meditation, effective communication and using natural highs as healthy
coping mechanisms against stress, alcohol and other drug use and
bullying behaviour," Bellace explained. "It was apparent to me that my
passion has always been working with students and schools."

While every teen is different, they do have a few things in
common.

"It's part of [teenagers] developmental process to break away from
their parents, and they are seeking novel things," Bellace said.
"Their brains are geared for learning. In fact, the most intense
period of learning happens between the ages 14 to 22 and they're
seeking knowledge."

Examples of helping others, exercise and even waiting until after
eating before making any decisions can help create a natural high over
other chemical options.

Bellace will also be speaking with the students during the school
day.

"I find if I do some assemblies during the day and they go really
well, like I hope they do [on Tuesday] the kids will encourage their
parents, 'Come out and see this,' " Bellace said. "Teens are terrible
at predicting the future and if you're telling them about a
consequence that will hit them 30 to 40 years down the road, they
don't care about that."

Bellace uses the example of smoking, that teenagers know the
consequences because the health information is out there and it's not
culturally acceptable now, it's not cool.

"It wasn't the cancer that was scaring them. The thing that reduced
teens' smoking rates to an all-time low was that it's no longer cool,"
Bellace said. "That cultural piece is so powerful."

The same can't be said for recreational use of marijuana, other
recreational drugs or destructive behaviour.

Bellace's background is a unique mix of psychology and
comedy.

"I took a class in neuropsychology, which is about the brain and
behaviour, and I just sort of knew," Bellace said. "I felt like this
is what I want to study in my life."

As a way to help improve his public speaking, and because it was an
interest, he took up stand up comedy as well.

The free parents night, held at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School,
1085 Woodbine Rd., is open to all parents, staff and interested
members of the community and starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt