TRAGEDY WILL STRIKE AGAIN: EX-ADDICT

Manitoba Schools Lack Co-ordinated Program On Drug Awareness

An ex-drug addict who was a regular user of ecstasy for years said the lack
of a co-ordinated drug awareness program in Manitoba schools will only lead
to more drug-related deaths.

"The (overdose death of Winnipeg teen Becky Ducharme) was a tragedy waiting
to happen,'' said Julian Madigan, 24, an ex-drug addict who spends his time
speaking about the dangers of drugs to teenagers and parents. "But it will
happen again, I have no doubt about that. More education is needed --
that's the key."

But Manitoba public schools have no co-ordinated attack on drugs.

"The simple answer is no, our commitment has been drinking and driving,"
Keith Thomas, risk manager for the Manitoba Association of School Trustees,
said yesterday. "There's no intensive programs."

Even during Drug Awareness Week in November, Thomas said, most speakers
deal with alcohol abuse.

The occasional health and physical education teacher will talk about drugs,
said Ashok Athavale, a guidance counsellor at Garden City Collegiate in
Seven Oaks School Division.

"They do a little hit and miss wherever they can fit it in," said Athavale,
who prepared drug awareness curriculum materials several years ago that
haven't been put to widespread use.

Athavale said a tragedy in a school will usually lead to a surge in
awareness training for a brief period.

Winnipeg school division teachers in grades two to nine receive drug
education training, which they're expected to pass on to their students in
health classes. The Grade 10 health and physical education curriculum
includes an extensive unit on drug and alcohol abuse, said a spokeswoman.

"'Just say no to drugs' -- that's about it," said Curtis Kohinski, a Grade
12 student at Miles Macdonnell Collegiate in River East School Division.

Madigan conceded there will always be teens who will ignore anti-drug
messages from parents and teachers, despite drug-related tragedies
occurring around them.

Tec Voc student Jesse Carlson said students who knew Becky Ducharme in
elementary or high school were upset yesterday, but by the time they get to
their parties this weekend, they'll see themselves as invincible.

There's a major rave whose location hasn't yet been announced, he said.
"People are kind of open about it: 'They'll come up and say, do you want
some?' There are going to be people in school Monday morning showing the
effects."

Kelvin High School is sponsoring a week of seminars by Madigan and his
father Gerry in November.

The father-son duo will speak to parents, students and will also spend a
half-day conducting a seminar with teachers, counsellors and other child
care professionals.Anyone wanting more information on the seminars is asked
to call Karen Rayter at 474-1492.