Pubdate: Fri, 29 Nov 2002
Source: North York Mirror (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 North York Mirror
Contact:  http://www.insidetoronto.ca/to/northy/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2202
Author: Justin Skinner

FILM HOPES TO KEEP KIDS AWAY FROM DRUGS

Toronto teens will be more aware of the effects of drugs and alcohol thanks 
to a new educational film by concerned parents' group Parent Action on 
Drugs (PAD).

The non-profit group, which was formerly known as Parents Against Drugs, 
released its second classroom film 'Skeletons in the Closet', at its annual 
general meeting and hopes to have the film distributed to schools across 
the city shortly.

The film, which is geared at teens 13 to 15, outlines goings-on at a party 
thrown by a Grade 12 student and his younger sister. It demonstrates the 
dangers of testing limits, obscuring judgment and making decisions when 
their thought processes are clouded over.

"Kids are going to be tempted by these things, but they have to be properly 
educated so they know what they could get into," said Diane Buhler, 
executive director of PAD. "Kids can get mean and when you throw alcohol 
and drugs into the mix, they can get much meaner."

PAD, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary as an advocacy group, looks 
at the problem of teen alcohol and drug use realistically.

Buhler said she knows that most teens will experiment with drugs or alcohol 
at some point, whether it's out of rebellion, curiosity, peer pressure or 
otherwise.

"A lot of teens feel the need to try alcohol or other drugs," she said. 
"But this film is a good jumping off point for discussion and can hopefully 
help facilitate conversations about why some kids are acting that way."

'Skeletons in the Closet' follows in the footsteps of PAD's first film 'For 
the Record', which was geared at older children and taught of the dangers 
of alcohol poisoning.

Both were filmed by students of Ryerson University and written after 
extensive educational consultation and research. Information was gathered 
through statistics and workshops with students at North York's Cardinal 
Carter Academy for the Arts.

The students were asked what kinds of problems and experiences they had 
come across at parties and those experiences were then transcribed into the 
film.

Student View

"We needed to really get a student perspective because that would be 
received far better than us just preaching at these teens," Buhler said. 
"So far, we've shown it to a number of schools and the kids have all seemed 
to like it."

While the films are geared toward teens, PAD is primarily a group to help 
parents, educators and health care workers make informed and rational 
choices about possible substance abuse issues with youths. Though it 
operates out of Downsview Secondary School, parents from across the city 
are welcome to join.

For details on PAD or its films, call 416-395-4970 or visit the website at 
www.parentactionondrugs.org
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MAP posted-by: Beth