100 MILE AREA YOUTH NEED MORE "ASSETS"

The results are in and they're predictably average.

When it comes to drug and alcohol use, South Cariboo youth are on par
with their North American counterparts.

This from Stuart Clark, executive director of Educo Adventure School,
after a survey, prepared and analysed by the Search Institute, was
given to 597 students in transitional grades 6, 7, 9 and 11 last November.

Based on 40 developmental assets that range from having a sense of
safety to a sense of purpose, South Cariboo youth scored a 21 rating.
Although this number is very consistent with North American averages,
Clark says it is too low.

"It's definitely something that we need to pay attention to as a
community," said Clark. "We now have results that indicate what we assumed."

The survey is comprised of eight asset categories -- four external
and four internal.

External assets are support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations
and constructive use of time. Internal assets are commitment to
learning, positive values, social competencies and positive identity.

Within these eight categories are five sub-categories.

"The higher number of developmental assets that kids report in their
life, the less likely they are to engage in high-risk activities,
including tobacco, alcohol and drugs," said Clark.

The survey indicates that 12 per cent of Grade 6 students in the
South Cariboo have tried either drugs, alcohol, tobacco or inhalants
at least once a month. That number increases to about 70 per cent by
the time they reach high school.

"We're definitely seeing that as the kids get older, they're using drugs more."

Clark says the Search Institute, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has
found that youth in North America do not have enough of the
aforementioned assets.

"This is why we're having social problems with youth," he noted.

"So they have given us a bunch of strategies we can use now to try
and develop assets in our community for our youth."

Educo was given $20,000 by the provincial government, through the
Union of B.C. Municipalities, to co-ordinate the South Cariboo
Methamphetamine Response Program (SCMRP).

Over the next while, the SCMRP advisory committee will meet with a
drug and alcohol worker and representatives from Interior Health.
They'll go over the 75-page Search Institute document, highlight what
they believe is important for the community to know and identify gaps
in services.

They will then make presentations on their findings to various interest groups.

On April 13, at Martin Exeter Hall, 100 Mile House youth will present
an audience-interactive play that generates problems and solutions as
regards drug and alcohol problems.

The morning of April 14 will be dedicated to presenting the survey
results to all members of the public, outlining the myriad of
problems that come with addiction. In the afternoon, Clark says,
there will be a community solution-oriented session, also at Martin
Exeter Hall.

Anyone interested in looking at the survey results can do so by
visiting the Educo Adventure School office in the Lodge building. It
is recommended that you call 395-3388 first, as the school has
intermittent hours during the winter.