YOUTH WRITING BOOK TO COMBAT TEEN DRUG USE

Youth in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are devising a new project
through Alouette Addictions to combat teen drug use, compiling their
perceptions and opinions into a book as part of the 421 project.

While "420" is a widely-used term in marijuana culture, with 4:20
being a popular time for smoking dope and April 20 thought of as an
unofficial day for pot, the youth suggested 421, followed by "the
truth about youth" as the project's title, signifying the
after-effects of drug intake.

"Four-twenty-one is after they start doing dope, what happens to their
world," said Ron Lawrance, executive director of Alouette Addictions.

Youth involved in the project so far, intended as a follow-up to the
Rewind movie, which was unveiled last October, include those involved
in the production of Rewind as well as others involved in Alouette
Addictions' T2 youth program, about 25 to 30 kids.

They form a writing club, with a four-point focus for the creation of
the book. They will include their perceptions on substance use, poetry
reflecting their lives, their personal stories relating to drug use,
as well as stories of youth personally affected by the substance use
of others.

"The kids who are representatives of the program will have their own
business cards," Lawrance said.

They will serve as ambassadors of the program, a core committee of
five youth.

"We're going to have them do some speaking at the park," Lawrance
added, referencing an event in Memorial Peace Park started last year
by the organization.

Lawrance said the writing project could take as long as a year; he
doesn't want to rush the youth in what they do because it's personal
to them. There won't be a single word penned by an adult in the book,
he added.

Cheryl Ashlie, chair of the local school board, said the board is
fully behind Lawrance and Alouette.

The school board committed half-funding of a youth outreach worker
position to the organization as part of its strategy against youth
substance use.

"We wouldn't be doing this stuff if we weren't feeling that what we
would be getting is keeping kids connected to schools and getting them
away from drugs," Ashlie said.

"I think it's a wonderful thing."

Through these types of efforts, Ashlie said the school board hopes to
put an end to the number of youth suspended from local schools for
drug use.

"We want to keep kids in the system until they graduate," she
said.

Suspending them means they are no longer connected to the school
community, and are then harder to reach in terms of prevention or help.

Lawrance spoke to the school board in a closed meeting recently to
inform the board of Alouette Addictions' latest efforts for youth drug
prevention.

"All of that is just really good work," Ashlie said.

Lawrance said the youth have created posters to inform people of their
project, which will be unveiled in the coming weeks.