EDUCATION Drug awareness program goes after Grades 4-7

Students as young as eight in Surrey schools are learning how to avoid
becoming drug abusers-hopefully before they've made the decision to try
drugs and alcohol.

Eight city schools began last month with a pilot program aimed at Grades 4
to 7.

Safe schools manager Theresa Campbell explained the Surrey-developed
program is unique because it does more than just talk about drugs.

"It teaches the steps to prevention-self-esteem, respect,
responsibility-then leads into the decision making, as both factors apply
to substance abuse prevention," she said.

"It's really starting at the ground level, developing those skills and
attitudes. It's not so much about the drugs, it's about decision making for
our intermediate students."

The program falls in line with the city's four-pillar drug plan proposed
early this year. The draft document is based on prevention, education,
treatment and enforcement-with a focus on youth.

Campbell, a member of Surrey's Drug Crime Task Force, said research shows
students are experimenting earlier.

Statistics from Prevention Source B.C. (1997) show 77 per cent of students
try alcohol before they hit high school, while 34 per cent try marijuana,
59 per cent smoking, and 15 per cent, LSD.

So what's being done to address the issues?

"That whole elementary shift has been recent for most school districts...as
far as the shift to that education at the elementary level," Campbell said.
"A lot of people concentrated on bringing those reality-based speakers in
Grade 8 and 9."

While high-impact, one-shot presentations such as showing students a
toned-down version of the gritty documentary Through The Blue Lens are
effective, they don't stick, Campbell said. (The film depicts street life
realities on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.)

"Most research tells us, in order for these prevention programs to work,
they have to be taught over a number of years so learning can be reinforced
and the kids have an opportunity to internalize the concepts."

Still, hard-hitting films and speakers will be used to support the concepts
tackled in the new curriculum.

Also key in the process is parent participation.

The curriculum contains suggestions to teachers on how to increase parental
involvement and foster discussions around drug abuse prevention, helping
parents reinforce what's taught.

"It always comes down to parents as partners," Campbell said.

Campbell wants to raise the profile around drug awareness and prevention
within the school district and is hoping to team up with the RCMP to
present a district-wide substance abuse prevention day for Grades 6-9 in
October.