DRUG AWARENESS WITH A DIFFERENCE

Student leaders at Tilbury District High School have been recognized
for their efforts to raise awareness about drug and alcohol abuse.

Twenty-five students participated as peer leaders in a program called
Challenges, Beliefs and Changes (CBC).

The pilot program, led by TDHS principal Pam Dobbs, Chatham-Kent
Public Health Unit nurse Stephanie Hillman and Chatham-Kent Police
Special Const. Charlene Mitchell, trains student volunteers to discuss
issues of substance use with their younger peers in grades 8 and 9.

A ceremony was held at the high school on Thursday to honour and thank
the peer leaders for their work.

As a show of appreciation and congratulations, Chatham-Kent Police
Chief Dennis Poole presented the students with certificates.

"You will make a difference in the lives of other people, and we're
very proud of you and of the work you have done," Poole said.

He also praised the idea of "teens talking to teens" as an effective
method for raising awareness of drug abuse.

"Certainly, it is a problem in every community, and there's no way
that police on their own can deal with it, especially just through
enforcement," Poole said.

"So by having our young people engaged -and the community engaged -we
hope there will be a huge impact on the younger people that we're
trying to get to -and that will lead to healthier lifestyles in the
future," he added.

To date, the peer leaders have offered training to 65 students at
TDHS, 46 students at Tilbury Area Public School, 35 students at
Wheatley Area Public School and 17 students at Merlin Area Public School.

Echoing Poole's comments, Hillman said the dedication of the students
was instrumental to the program's success.

"We know, historically, that adults going in to teach youth haven't
been as effective," said Hillman.

"Research is now showing that peer-on-peer education tends to be more
effective and the feedback from the elementary students who have
received the training has been positive," she said.

According to a confidential evaluation of students from the Tilbury
and Wheatley public schools, 91 per cent said they found the peer
training more effective than adult training and 81 per cent learned
"something new" about alcohol and drugs.

In addition to the contributions of the peer leaders, Hillman said the
partnership of the health unit, the Lambton- Kent District School
Board and the police service has been a key component of the program.