STUDENTS TOLD OF IMPORTANCE OF DRUG FREE ZONES

The message in Whitecourt schools on drugs and alcohol is "not in our
backyard."

Whitecourt's St. Joseph, Hilltop and Percy Baxter schools were declared
"Drug Free Zones" on March 15 by local RCMP and the Town of Whitecourt.

The zones, encompassing school boundaries, incidate where zero tolerance
will be practiced regarding alcohol anddrug use or possession, said Const.
Charlotte Peters.

She emphasized arrests will be made and there will be pushes for strong
sentences through the court.

Each school had a presentation outlining the drug-free concept, complete
with a demonstration from Cpl. Grant Little of the Edmonton drug unit with
his dog, Star. She demonstrated how she can detect even minute amounts of
drugs, solely by scent.

Also at the assemblies was Mike Ryan, a speaker for AADAC and former drug
addict.

Ryan said his reason for attending the Drug Free Zone assemblies was "I'm
part of the reason drugs are in schools."

"I was not only a big-time drug user but a big-time drug trafficker. There
used to be some seriously bad choices in my life."

Ryan said he became addicted to drugs during a hospital stay after a
serious motorcycle accident in his teens.

"When I got out of the hospital I was already a drug addict. I looked to
street drugs to make me feel the way I did in the hospital, when I didn't
feel any pain."

After years of drug abuse, including cocaine and heroin, he lost nearly 100
pounds of weight and 95 per cent of the hair on his head, face and body.

"I liken it to chemotherapy ... I was killing myself gradually. I consider
(drugs) suicide on the installment plan."

Ryan said he was in jail several times, including once for armed robbery.
"I committed it more than once, but I only got caught once."

He said after that release from jail, he got into "really serious trouble"
by joining a gang.

Ryan said there was not one defining moment that made him realize he needed
to get off drugs. One of which, he said, was meeting an RCMP officer
addicted to alcohol while in rehab. He said that made him realize police
officers are people too and have their share of issues.

Since his 21-year career in crime and drug addiction, Ryan has gone on to
receive a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in psychology from Athabasca
University. "I am the only person in my family ever to get an university
degree."

Ryan said as a result of drug use, he has Hepatitis C - a disease of the
liver - "that will kill me within 10 years without a liver transplant."

However, he said his worst day now "is better than my very best day while
using."

"If you want to play around with crime and criminal behavior, your life is
in jeopardy." Ryan said as of April 9 of this year, he will have been clean
from drugs for 12 years.

"People always tell you 'don't do drugs'. Now I've told you why."