CARD AIMS TO HELP YOUTHS IN JAMS

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, be it a parent, aunt, uncle or
older sibling, who writes his or her 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 from, or advice to deal with, an unsafe
situation - without judgment.

The glossy card, purplish in color 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 Ms 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 Region can order more cards if needed, Ms Coutu said.

The card program - which started up 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.

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

Halton Chair Joyce Savoline is a member of the Region's youth advisory
committee, which deals with youth issues, and said the card program is
a great idea.

"One of the things is to make sure that you don't feel alone out
there, and that you're so independent that you can't reach out and ask
for some dependence. This is just another support mechanism."

Ms Coutu said the card program will be evaluated to see how effective
it's been.

For more information, call the Region at (905) 825-6000.