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.
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MAP posted-by: Beth