PROMOTING HEALTHY, DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLES; RACE AGAINST DRUGS PROGRAM
TAKES PLACE NEXT WEEK

More than 1,500 students from across Niagara will Race Against Drugs
next week.

The 10th annual Racing Against Drugs event will take place April 14
to 18 at the Optimist Club on Morrison Street.

The community-based drug and alcohol awareness initiative is designed
to promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles, said Heather Selvig, of the
RCMP, which helped develop the program.

The program is geared towards Grade 5 students.

"The kids nowadays are a lot more knowledgeable than previous
generations but, in that age group, they are still impressionable,"
said Const. Rob Knight, of the Niagara detachment of the Ontario
Provincial Police.

"They are, however, intelligent enough to take the information we
will provide them and, hopefully, it will set them on a lifelong
pattern for healthy lifestyle choices."

Using an auto racing theme to capture the students' attention, the
club will be transformed into a race track including a
professionally-built 1:24 scale slot car track.

Participants will be steered towards a series of "pit stops" where
police and community health professionals will discuss various issues
including fire safety, youth gambling, and alcohol and drug awareness.

Knight will share techniques for safe and responsible Internet use.
"We want to increase their awareness of some of the dangers that are
out there," he said.

"The more information they put on the Internet the more that
information can be used to harm them," he said, adding such
information can result in Internet bullying or attract online predators.

Participating agencies include OPP, Niagara Regional Police, Niagara
Parks Police, Niagara Region public health, Niagara Emergency Medical
Services and the Canada Border Services Agency.