It's never too early to start talking to your children about drugs. That's the message a retired police officer-turned-drug-educator told delegates attending the annual spring meeting of the Georgian Bay Conference of the ELCIC (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada). "We give our kids medicine and tell them it's safe . . . what we have forgotten to tell them is that drugs are safe only if you follow the rules," Heather Hodgson-Schleich said. "As soon as a child starts talking, start talking to them, at age appropriate levels, about drugs. Make sure they understand the rules about medicine use. We don't wait for them to be hit before we tell them about traffic safety or talk to them about stranger awareness. It's the same with drugs. The more they know, the better prepared they will be." [continues 618 words]
It's never too early to start talking to your children about drugs. That's the message a retired police officer turned drug educator told delegates attending the annual spring meeting of the Georgian Bay Conference of the ELCIC (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada). "We give our kids medicine and tell them it's safe . . . what we have forgotten to tell them is that drugs are safe only if you follow the rules," Heather Hodgson- Schleich said. "As soon as a child starts talking, start talking to them, at age appropriate levels, about drugs. Make sure they understand the rules about medicine use. We don't wait for them to be hit before we tell them about traffic safety or talk to them about stranger awareness. It's the same with drugs. The more they know, the better prepared they will be." [continues 414 words]
Expert Says Teens Need To Learn How To Have Healthy Relationships There's no magic or easy solution to the problems of drug and alcohol abuse by area teens, a drug awareness forum in Chesley was told Tuesday. Developing meaningful relationships is key to adolescent well-being, David A. Wolfe, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Toronto and director of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Centre for Prevention Science, said. Wolfe believes so strongly in the importance of healthy relationships for teens with their peers, teachers and especially their parents that he and his colleagues are promoting the "fourth R" for schools. [continues 740 words]
Chesley - Developing meaningful relationships is key to adolescent well-being and according to a professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Toronto may also be one of the keys in helping teens avoid becoming substance abusers. Dr. David A. Wolfe, the Director of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Centre for Prevention Science, believes so strongly in the importance of healthy relationships for teens - with their peers, their teachers and especially their parents - he and his colleagues are promoting the "fourth R." [continues 921 words]
