News (Media Awareness Project) - CN ON: Editorial: Just Say 'Yuk' To Drugs |
| Title: | CN ON: Editorial: Just Say 'Yuk' To Drugs |
| Published On: | 2002-04-17 |
| Source: | Standard, The (CN ON) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-30 18:18:51 |
JUST SAY 'YUK' TO DRUGS
How far we have come in a few short years: A decade ago, Nancy Reagan's
message to American school children faced with the offer of illicit drugs
was a prim, "Just say no."
This week, 1,800 Niagara Grade 5 students from 46 schools learned from an
RCMP officer that drug dealers often hide their drugs in their underwear.
Sometimes dealers swallow the drugs, the children were told, and later on
fish them out of the toilet. Some criminals even substitute dog feces for
the drugs they sell on the street.
In short, the message the schoolchildren received was graphic and made
clear that taking drugs isn't glamourous or adventurous, as it is sometimes
portrayed in the movies. Nor is it funny to see people "stoned" on drugs --
or to be stoned.
During the 1980s and 1990s, drug jokes took over from the drunk jokes that
were popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the drug comedies filmed
during that era are now being shown on television, and children in this age
group are in danger of being influenced by the irresponsible messages of a
less-enlightened decade.
The students' reaction to the toilet stories was one of disgust, and that's
a good start to keeping them off drugs. We hope the memory of that
revulsion remains in their minds as they become young adults.
Another of the information exhibits the children visited at the Racing
Against Drugs event held at the Optimist Club in Niagara Falls was the
Niagara Emergency Medical Services booth, where a paramedic showed the
children the consequences of taking drugs.
After demonstrating a needle, an intravenous bag, defibrillator paddles and
the tubes which are inserted into the throats of some overdose victims to
help them breathe, the paramedic reassured the students: "We're here if you
need us, but it makes us sad."
It makes us sad, too, that we live in an age where Grade 5 students need to
be taught how to stay drug-free.
But if these shock tactics help to keep them straight or to save their
lives, that will be an incalculable benefit to their generation.
How far we have come in a few short years: A decade ago, Nancy Reagan's
message to American school children faced with the offer of illicit drugs
was a prim, "Just say no."
This week, 1,800 Niagara Grade 5 students from 46 schools learned from an
RCMP officer that drug dealers often hide their drugs in their underwear.
Sometimes dealers swallow the drugs, the children were told, and later on
fish them out of the toilet. Some criminals even substitute dog feces for
the drugs they sell on the street.
In short, the message the schoolchildren received was graphic and made
clear that taking drugs isn't glamourous or adventurous, as it is sometimes
portrayed in the movies. Nor is it funny to see people "stoned" on drugs --
or to be stoned.
During the 1980s and 1990s, drug jokes took over from the drunk jokes that
were popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the drug comedies filmed
during that era are now being shown on television, and children in this age
group are in danger of being influenced by the irresponsible messages of a
less-enlightened decade.
The students' reaction to the toilet stories was one of disgust, and that's
a good start to keeping them off drugs. We hope the memory of that
revulsion remains in their minds as they become young adults.
Another of the information exhibits the children visited at the Racing
Against Drugs event held at the Optimist Club in Niagara Falls was the
Niagara Emergency Medical Services booth, where a paramedic showed the
children the consequences of taking drugs.
After demonstrating a needle, an intravenous bag, defibrillator paddles and
the tubes which are inserted into the throats of some overdose victims to
help them breathe, the paramedic reassured the students: "We're here if you
need us, but it makes us sad."
It makes us sad, too, that we live in an age where Grade 5 students need to
be taught how to stay drug-free.
But if these shock tactics help to keep them straight or to save their
lives, that will be an incalculable benefit to their generation.
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