News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Parents Receive Meth Message At Forum |
| Title: | CN BC: Parents Receive Meth Message At Forum |
| Published On: | 2006-05-13 |
| Source: | Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-14 05:09:39 |
PARENTS RECEIVE METH MESSAGE AT FORUM
Strengthening the family reduces the risk that children will end up
addicted to drugs.
Parents heard that message from Robyn Cook, the safe schools
co-ordinator for the Nanaimo school district, at an information
meeting about crystal meth in the community.
About 80 parents attended the information session at John Barsby
secondary school, the second of four forums planned for May. They
coincide with information given to Grade 6-12 students during class.
"One of the things you need to know is that parents make a
difference," Cook said. "You have influence and your kids tell us
that you have influence."
Cook said parents should be fair and consistent when enforcing rules,
and instill their values and beliefs in their children.
"You are important and you do make a difference," Cook said.
She told the story of a father waiting for his son to come home after
taking the car out for the evening. Four hours after his son was due
home, he received a call from police to say that his son was picked
up for drunk driving.
When he arrived at the police station, he told his son two things --
that he loved him and that he had to face the consequences of his actions.
"It's never too late to start drug education but more importantly
it's never too early," Cook said.
The information put before parents Wednesday night (May 10) is the
same information that their children get in class. Parents, some of
whom brought their children, saw a PowerPoint presentation about what
meth is and how to recognize it, plus the video Death by Jib, that
contained interviews with meth addicts.
The Crystal Meth Task Force was formed in September 2005 to look into
how crystal meth was affecting the community.
"It's not an epidemic among youth at this point," said Sherry Elwood,
chairwoman of the task force's education committee. "But you have a
better outcome than putting [awareness] at the end in rehab."
Two more forums are scheduled for Nanaimo District secondary school
on May 17 at 7 p.m. and at Dover Bay secondary on May 24 at 7 p.m.
Strengthening the family reduces the risk that children will end up
addicted to drugs.
Parents heard that message from Robyn Cook, the safe schools
co-ordinator for the Nanaimo school district, at an information
meeting about crystal meth in the community.
About 80 parents attended the information session at John Barsby
secondary school, the second of four forums planned for May. They
coincide with information given to Grade 6-12 students during class.
"One of the things you need to know is that parents make a
difference," Cook said. "You have influence and your kids tell us
that you have influence."
Cook said parents should be fair and consistent when enforcing rules,
and instill their values and beliefs in their children.
"You are important and you do make a difference," Cook said.
She told the story of a father waiting for his son to come home after
taking the car out for the evening. Four hours after his son was due
home, he received a call from police to say that his son was picked
up for drunk driving.
When he arrived at the police station, he told his son two things --
that he loved him and that he had to face the consequences of his actions.
"It's never too late to start drug education but more importantly
it's never too early," Cook said.
The information put before parents Wednesday night (May 10) is the
same information that their children get in class. Parents, some of
whom brought their children, saw a PowerPoint presentation about what
meth is and how to recognize it, plus the video Death by Jib, that
contained interviews with meth addicts.
The Crystal Meth Task Force was formed in September 2005 to look into
how crystal meth was affecting the community.
"It's not an epidemic among youth at this point," said Sherry Elwood,
chairwoman of the task force's education committee. "But you have a
better outcome than putting [awareness] at the end in rehab."
Two more forums are scheduled for Nanaimo District secondary school
on May 17 at 7 p.m. and at Dover Bay secondary on May 24 at 7 p.m.
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