DRIVING HOME AN ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE

Drugs and crime go hand-in-hand, said OPP Const. Joel
Doiron at the launch of the annual Race Against Drugs program Monday
morning.

The Race Against Drugs is a week-long awareness campaign for
elementary school students, and it falls at an opportune time as this
week is also officially Crime Prevention Week.

"The government has consistently identified crime prevention and
community safety as key priorities," Minister of Public Safety and
Security Bob Runciman said in a press release.

"We recognize the need for every citizen to do his or her part to help
prevent crime."

Representatives from the OPP, the Cornwall Police, CN Police, Cornwall
Fire Department, Youth Centre, and Operation Lookout were among those
working towards promoting a healthier and safer lifestyle for youths.

"If we can keep them away from drugs, we can keep them away from
crime," said Doiron.

Up to 2,000 students from S, D and G and Cornwall schools will be
attending the Race Against Drugs which consists of stations set up
inside the Cornwall Armories.

Grades 5 and 6 students accompanied by their teachers, move from
station to station.

"We're here to promote a healthy lifestyle. We want them to follow a
successful route into a better future," said Doiron.

Each station holds a different message, but the overall perspective is
to show kids the negativite results of drugs. "Kids are our future and
if we give them the right message, hopefully they will hold onto it
and make it a good place for the generations after them."