DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM TARGETS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

"Just say know" is the slogan for a new West Kootenay drug and alcohol
prevention project.

Developed and implemented by Freedom Quest's Bonnie Lundmark, a youth
prevention worker, the program has been visiting elementary and middle
schools in the area since January.

"The specific goal is to positively influence youth at that age," she
said.

Information taken from a 2008 survey showed that onset was becoming
younger. That translated to children in grades as low as 4 and 5
knowing about what kinds of drugs were out there, as well as alcohol.

With funding from the Columbia Basin Trust, Lundmark was able to
develop the program last Nov. and has spent the last six months
holding parent meetings, classroom workshops and parent/youth meetings.

As the project is still in its pilot stage, the plan was for Lundmark
to only visit two schools in each West Kootenay school district.
However, the demand was so great that she ended up holding double the
projected amount. In School District 20 she held workshops at Robson
Community School and Glenmerry Elementary.

The classroom workshops used techniques to find out what students
already knew about drugs and alcohol, and Lundmark was able to debunk
many myths that way.

She was also able to gauge students' knowledge by putting them in
hypothetical situations and seeing how they would react.

She also gave students information on the "gray" areas of substances,
such as prescriptions.

"It gets pretty mucky being a teenager," said Lundmark, who also talks
to the kids about confidence building, ways to stay safe and where
they can go in the community if they have a problem, especially in
rural communities.

"Yes we talk about drugs and alcohol but there's so much more than
that."

Lundmark found that even with three one-hour workshops with the
students, it wasn't enough.

"The youth really do want to talk about it," she said, adding that
they want someone to talk to that will give them honest answers.

With the success of the pilot program, Lundmark is looking to carry
the program on next year.

"I have the best job," she said. "To be as open and honest as I can is
pretty amazing."

For more information email Lundmark at bonniefq@shaw.ca .