PARENTS GET THE DEAL ON TEEN DRUG USE

Positive reinforcement not punishment is a good way to deal with kids
who are using or abusing drugs.

This was one of the messages that came from a drug information night
held at Collingwood Collegiate Institute on Tuesday evening. Guidance
leader Annie Chandler said she was asked by a group of parents to
host the session.

Guest speakers included Maria Figliuzzi and Pamela Thorne from the
Canadian Mental Health Association as well as OPP Const. Trevor
McKean, who serves as the high school liaison officer.

Figliuzzi, who works as a youth outreach worker, said there are a
number of reasons why kids start using drugs. The "triggers," could
be anything from trouble at home, school, work, peer pressure, not
making sports teams or even stress.

Thorne said the most common way for parents to deal with teen drug
use is by punishment, but that doesn't always work.

"If they are feeling overwhelmed and smoking marijuana calms them
down, it makes sense to them," she said. "It's almost an automatic to
punish the child."

Thorne said if a child is out drinking underage, a parent could say
"I'm so proud of you for coming home."

She said the next day, "take them out for a greasy breakfast and tell
them why you're disappointed."

Thorne said this not only helps the children but also the parent, who
could be blaming themselves for their child's drug use.

"It gives the parents time to cool down," she said. "Give them as
much positive as you can. It's hard for them to hear feedback when
they feel they are being attacked."

Parents at the session offered concerns about underage drinking and
adults providing alcohol, major drug use at the school and in the
Collingwood area.

Chandler doesn't believe the school has a "drug problem," but says
there are a number of students who experiment.

McKean said the primary drugs are alcohol and marijuana, and anywhere
from 40-60 per cent of high school students will experiment. He said
this number could be higher in the senior grades.

"There are drugs in school, there were drugs in school when I was
here and there will be drugs here when I am long dead," McKean said.

Figliuzzi said she doesn't offer an opinion on teen drug use. She
tries to educate the teen so they make the right choice, this could
include scaling back their use or quitting.

"We try to educate them and their own substance abuse," she said.