POWERFUL STORY HITS HOME

Drug Awareness Week Nov. 15 - 19

Secondary students within the York Region Catholic District School Board
are preoccupied with alcohol, marijuana and illicit medications.

And board officials couldn't be more pleased.

In anticipation of National Drug Awareness Week, Nov. 15 to 19, the board
has launched an intensive, hard-hitting campaign to teach students there
can be more problems associated with recreational drugs than so-called hard
drugs.

To drive home the perils of substance use and abuse, the board's drug
awareness month committee and community partners have developed a series of
month-long events for 14,000 high school students.

"Because many of our activities are outside the formal drug awareness week,
we're declaring the entire month as a time to learn about substance
issues," said Domenic Scuglia, committee co-chairperson.

"People say, 'It's just marijuana' or 'It's just alcohol' like there's no
big deal with these drugs."

Each school will kick-start the campaign with a video entitled Consequences.

"It's a powerful true story about a young Texas girl who was hit by a drunk
driver," Mr. Scuglia said. "She survived and is interviewed along with the
driver who struck her. It's a high impact presentation."

Following the video, representatives from York's Mothers Against Drunk
Drivers will share stories about the dangers of driving drunk. Youths
previously involved in substance abuse will also relate their experiences.

York Regional Police will display a car wreck at schools as a reminder of
what can happen. A travelling health fair will make the rounds during lunch
hours and a red ribbon fundraising event is planned. An art and media
contest calls for students to submit posters, essays, poems, songs and prayers.

The committee is made up of secondary school administrators and community
partners including York Region Public Health Services, the Centre for
Addictions and Mental Health, York Region Police, Addiction Services for
York Region, the Canadian Mental Health Association of York Region and the
Ontario Drug Awareness Partnership.

Additional information and a schedule of events is available by calling Mr.
Scuglia at 905-851-6699.