PHONE ME CARD WILL HELP YOUTH

It's late, perhaps really late, and the friend who drove you and your
buddies to a party is too drunk or too high, and can't get behind the wheel
to take you home. Or you've found yourself in a tough bind and you need
help or guidance getting out of it.

What do you do?

Halton Region's health department has a unique idea that simply requires a
young person's trust in a peer.

Called the "phone me card," it's the size of a regular business card that
you give to someone you respect -- a parent, aunt, uncle or older sibling
- -- who writes in their name and phone number on the back.

You can pull it out of your wallet or pocket to call that person for a ride
to get home safely, or advice to deal with an unsafe situation -- without
judgment.

The glossy card, purplish in colour with a psychedelic design, reads, "Call
me if you need help, anytime, anywhere -- no lecture, no hassles."

"It's one way for parents or adults to give a message to youth in their
life that if things go bad and you need help, I can pick you up," said
Josee Coutu, manager of the injury, violence and substance abuse prevention
program with the heath department. "It's a meaningful gesture to give to a
youth -- I am here for you."

Just as important as getting home safely, the phone me card will hopefully
help a young person establish and keep a trusting relationship with a peer,
creating a domino effect of positive benefits in life.

"We're optimistic it's another way for opening a channel for discussion,"
said Coutu, noting the card would make for a great Christmas stocking
stuffer. "We know caring adults and caring relationships are assets that
can help a youth succeed."

The card concept was developed by the Ontario Drug Awareness Partnership
(ODAP), which consists of health and education agencies funded by the
Ministry of Health and Long-term Care.

The region has 200 phone me cards to be distributed by public health nurses
to students across the region in Grade 7 and up, if requested.

The card program -- which started during drug awareness week in November --
is also being encouraged by the region given the results of a recent drug
use survey by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

It found approximately 29 per cent of Ontario students reported being a
passenger in a car at least once in the past year with someone who had been
drinking, and 23 per cent with a driver who was using drugs.

Coutu said the statistics likely mirror the trends in Halton youth, and
must be taken seriously.

For more information, call the region at 905-825-6000.