TESTING YOUTHS' DRUG AND ALCOHOL SMARTS

Who Wants to Have a Healthy Lifestyle booth will be modelled on Who
Wants to be a Millionaire

A former Powell River student is returning to school this month to
help educate others about the perils of drug and alcohol.

Tawnya Wodzinski is a member of the LEAD (Let's Educate About Drugs)
committee and will volunteer at booth at this year's Addiction
Awareness Carnival at Oceanview Middle School on Monday, November 29.

Wodzinski will be stationed at the Who Wants to Have a Healthy
Lifestyle booth--a spoof on the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire game
show.

"There will be questions about alcohol," said Susan Hill, drug and
alcohol prevention coordinator for Powell River Mental Health and
Addiction Services.

All grade-eight students in Powell River will have the opportunity to
attend the carnival on November 29. Hill said it is a good time for
students to learn the truth about alcohol and drugs and how they can
affect someone's life.

"I'm very alarmed at the way teens are drinking," Hill told The Peak.
"Some of them are drinking hard liquor straight and they're drinking
large amounts."

Hill said some teens--boys and girls alike--are drinking a mickey (13
ounces) at a time.

"It's very scary because it's not just once. Often times they're doing
this on a regular basis. They're developing a tolerance very quickly,
which is a predictor for problem drinking later on."

National mountain bike champion Mike Jones will be this year's guest
speaker at the carnival. Jones, who is a motivational speaker and
adventure seeker, will talk about alcohol, drugs and peer pressure.

At the carnival students will have the opportunity to work their way
through about a dozen booths and sample the popular mocktail.

Wodzinski, who attended the carnival herself eight years ago, said she
thinks it is important for youth to educate other youth and not just
have adults do the educating.

"It helps get the message across," she said. "It wasn't that long ago
that I was in grade eight doing this, so I have some insight into
what's effective and what's not."

As in past years, brown bags distributed at Safeway during National
Addictions Awareness Week and will be decorated with health promotion
messages created by local elementary school students.

People are also invited to participate in a swim at the Powell River
Recreation Complex at 7 pm on Friday, November 26. It costs a dollar
and will be aimed at elementary school students. Drug and alcohol
awareness information will be available at this event.

Hill's services are offered at no charge to youth who are seeking
information on drug and alcohol counselling. Adults who require
addiction information can contact an adult counsellor at Powell River
Mental Health and Addiction Services.