HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS GET A DOSE OF REALITY AT DRUG TALK

In a no-holds barred manner, substance abuse counsellor Norbert
Georges delivered a poignant and at times haunting message to parents
in attendance at the Mother Teresa High School Substance Abuse
Awareness evening on Tues., Mar.10.

Although the gymnasium in no way reflected a packed house, the close
to 25 parents that did attend went home not only more educated about
the facts of substance abuse and their youth, but stunned at the facts
and statistics. George's power point presentation was at times
graphic-an effective tool to "shake up" students and their families
about the harsh realities of drinking and driving and the cycle of
substance abuse.

"I'm here because I care," said the former paramedic. "I'm here
because I don't want you to end up underneath the blue, green, or
yellow body blanket. That's what they'll throw over you."

Using both parents and youth in a demonstration of the "high cycle,"
George's information was delivered in a simple, easy to understand
manner.

"Talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol," he said. "Parents are
always asking themselves what they are doing wrong.

I simply tell them this-find out, talk to your child and ask
questions.

They'll just rebel if you tell them, 'don't drink and drive.' What you
have to say is, 'It's okay not to drink; it's okay not to use drugs,
it's okay to say no.'"

Georges explained that many teens feel using alcohol and drugs is
expected of them. "They don't want to drink. They don't even like it.
It's the peer pressure."

Addiction is the disease of the feelings and the downward spiral
follows a pattern of four stages.

At Stage 1, parents will not know their child has an addiction
problem.

This is where mood swings come into play. At stage 2, the child is
good at hiding their problem and, although everything will look fine,
they are seeking the high. In stage 3, the child's grades may be
slipping and preoccupation or obsession comes into play. Stage 4 they
are using substances just to feel normal, but the brain has built up a
tolerance to the alcohol or drugs and this is where trouble starts.
The cycle is comprised of a revolving door of drug use that goes from
pain to normal to high, with normal eventually being bypassed altogether.

"By the time you come across your child's drugs or alcohol, they have
reached the stage 3 level.

They become sloppy.

Perhaps their personal hygiene has declined. They are skipping school
or work, seem angry and moody.

They are bringing alcohol or drugs to school or work with them. The
pattern becomes exhausting. They find they can't get high anymore and
have to use more and more. If no intervention takes place at this
point, they go beyond stage 4-overdose death," explained Georges. "It
is the worst nightmare of a parent-a knock on the door. Policemen at 3
a.m., and a trip to the morgue to identify your child.

"I don't want you to end up here!" said Georges, pointing to a slide
of a body in a morgue." While pointing to a disturbing, graphic slide
of a mangled vehicle involved in a drinking and driving collision,
Georges said, "We're not born winners; we're not born losers; we're
born choosers.

Don't choose death.

I'm just a paramedic who doesn't want this to happen to
you."

Georges explained to parents that drinking and driving and substance
abuse are not the problems-they are simply symptoms of a problem.
"Something is causing your children to drink and take drugs-
depression, anxiety, anger. There is something under there and you
must sit down and figure it out. Show your kids that you can talk to
them without getting angry," he said. "My advice to parents is to let
your kids be who they are, as long as they are not hurting themselves
or anybody else-fine."

Georges then used volunteers from the audience to demonstrate the four
levels of addiction and the cycle of the high.

"Do you just go out and decide to become an addict? Somebody has to
feed it to you first.

One hit of crystal meth and you will be addicted from the getgo," said
Georges.

"Addiction is the disease of feelings. Stage 1 is learning the mood
swings. 2 is seeking the high. 3 is preoccupation or obsession. 4 is
using to feel normal.

In other words, to get rid of their pain, they self-medicate."

"Our focus was to present topics of interest to parents," said Mary
Jean McAleer, organizer and parent council representative. "The kids
don't want to be shielded from reality. They want to learn the truth
and he delivered an incredible, factual presentation. The kids were
mesmerized. The morning seminar delivered to students was so well
received. It was incredible. By the end of the seminar, some 30
students, mainly males, approached Norbert and wanted to shake his
hand and thank him. A number of girls wanted to speak to him
personally as well. The students felt safe and comfortable with him
since there is the element of anonymity. He doesn't know them and they
don't know him. They felt a real connection with him and the kids need
that."