Pubdate: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc Contact: http://www.mrtimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372 Author: Maija Schell YOUTH TO SURVEY YOUTH ABOUT DRUG PROBLEMS A survey which will be conducted by youth in the community may confirm that hard drug useage is a problem for kids in the area. Melita Caissie, an alcohol and drug counselor from the Nisha Family and Children's Services Society Astra program, is conducting the assessment with four local youth. Youth will be helping with the survey over their spring break, asking kids to fill out questionnaires at popular youth hang-outs in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. "I think that youth will be more inclined to answer to youth," she said. "There is the idea that there is no problem with youth using heroine, cocaine and ecstasy, but preliminary results from the research show this is not the case." Caissie said she works with youth on a regular basis and the groups tell her the problem exists. The study results will be presented to police, the school board and the local MLA's office. "We're wanting to show people we need more resources out there," she said. "We need more services for youth and also more services for parents of those youth. We need counseling services - free services, which are right now few and far between." Programs currently in place and service providers trying to help are not sufficient according to Caissie. "With some programs you need to go through the ministry...and officers entering the classrooms in uniform is very intimidating to students," she said. Caissie believes prevention workers and information related to drug use are not easily available to youth in the communities. "We need more support for youth who want more information about drugs. Youth need to feel comfortable talking about drugs. Not all youth who do drugs are addicts and not all youth who do drugs have a problem. Some kids are labeled by people as drug addicts and then they feel like they have to live up to their title. It's like a self-fulfilling prophecy," she said. The study is a follow-up study to the published report titled, "Filling the Gaps," by researcher Carol Munro. The report highlighted gaps in programs for youth at risk in the area. The report indicates alcohol and drug counseling as the area receiving greatest priority for parents. The Maple Ridge Alcohol and Drug centre and the Astra program were designated as available resources with accessible information for youth in the area. Caissie said the timing for the follow-up study is appropriate. "The timing is right. The community has an idea about the drugs in the area. Now they'll learn about what youth are saying about harder drugs in the community," she said. Youth involved in the survey, answering questions related to drugs and drug use will not be asked to reveal their identity. The final report will be available by April 31. It will be distributed in the community and on file at the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows libraries. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth