LEARNING TO SAY NO

Thomas Archibald [left] and Alex Lewis are two of many students in Jill
Brewer's grade four and five class at Grief Point Elementary School who
created messages on bags for Drug Awareness Week, available for Safeway
customers later this month.

Awareness week highlights what children can do to resist drugs and alcohol.

Those involved in drug and alcohol awareness agree that education is an
important component when it comes to learning how to say no and coping with
peer pressure.

Provincial statistics show that 10 per cent of the population is addicted
to drugs and alcohol and another 10 per cent struggle with abuse.

Children are experimenting with drugs and alcohol at an earlier age, said
Susan Hill, drug and alcohol prevention coordinator for School District 47
and the community.

"The average age for trying tobacco is 11," said Hill. "It's important that
students learn skills to refuse and how to cope with peer pressure."

November 19 to 25 is drug and alcohol awareness week in Powell River, and
Monday, November 26, is the date for a drug and alcohol awareness fair and
evening at Oceanview Middle School.

Various activities will be taking place in schools and in the community to
help educate students about drugs this week.

Elementary school students in the district have been busy working on the
Safeway brown bag program. Students colour or paint logos and messages
about alcohol and drug awareness on bags, which are returned to the store
for distribution.

"I have a hard time giving some of them back," said Hill, who still can't
get over what a great job the students do on the bags. "The bags are just
awesome."

Bulletin boards are decorated with positive health messages at elementary
schools. Students at Oceanview Middle School will perform skits during the
week. "We do role playing to teach the younger students how to be assertive
when refusing drugs and alcohol."

A poster contest will also be held, with the theme of how to refuse drugs
and alcohol. Posters will be put on display in the public library.

A carnival geared toward grade-eight students will be held at Oceanview on
Monday, November 26, from 8:45 am to 11:15 am and again from 11:45 am to
2:15 pm.

There will be game booths, minigolf, a roulette wheel, and the RCMP will be
there with their impaired-vision goggles. The Powell River Kings will also
be at the fair, with a hockey shoot. "We try to make it fun but
informative," said Hill.

Motivational speaker Norbert Georget is the guest speaker scheduled to talk
to high school students about drug and alcohol awareness, and Westview
Learning Centre will have guest speakers from Narcotics Anonymous and
Alcoholics Anonymous to kick off the week.

A table will be set up in the Town Centre Mall outside Bootleggers that
will contain information brochures and other handouts that the public are
encouraged to pick up.

The Powell River District Public Library will display books and videos on
drug awareness. Posters created by elementary school students who
participated in a contest sponsored by McDonald's will be on display at the
restaurant.

New Life Counselling Service will hold a loonie swim beginning at 7 pm on
Friday, November 23 at the Powell River Recreation Complex.

Marching for awareness

Sliammon's third annual drug awareness march leaves the health centre in
Sliammon at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, November 21.

The number of participants has been growing steadily every year said Gerald
Blaney, a drug and alcohol counsellor for Sliammon. Last year 110 people
joined in the march.

Cindy Smith, a drug and alcohol counsellor for Sliammon, said "We want
people to participate in addiction awareness. Just because you're a social
drinker doesn't mean you can't be involved."

Blaney said elders and parents in Sliammon are concerned over the "easy
access" to drugs in the community. Both he and Smith believe that
awareness, education, and communication are necessary if change is to be
achieved.

A number of services including addiction treatment information is available
through the Sliammon addiction program, which Smith said is an outreach
type of service.

"We offer one-on-one counselling and referrals. We also provide health
activities education, awareness, and prevention."

An evening of drug and alcohol information for parents will be held on
Monday, November 26, at Oceanview Middle School, and transportation is
available for members of Sliammon First Nation who wish to attend. People
can contact Blaney or Smith through Sliammon Health to arrange transportation.

LEADING THE WAY

November 20, 2001

A drug and alcohol awareness education evening will be held for parents and
other interested people on Monday, November 26, at Oceanview Middle School.
Sponsored by LEAD(Let's Educate Against Drugs)the evening gets underway at
7 pm. The LEAD committee is made up of professionals and concerned parents
from the community.

This year, two Vancouver city police officers will be featured. The
officers were instrumental in the production of the award-winning
documentary, Through a Blue Lens, which focusses on the lives of addicts.
Toby Hinton and Al Arsenault will present a powerful message that will
inform parents about the perils of life in the downtown Eastside of Vancouver.

Coroner Stewart Alsgard is scheduled to be a guest speaker during the
evening, along with a mother who lost a child to drug addiction.