Pubdate: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 The Lethbridge Herald Contact: http://www.mysouthernalberta.com/leth/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239 Author: Bruce Elniski BUSY TEENS ARE DRUG-FREE TEENS Editor: Thanks to the parent council of Catholic Central High School for hosting a recent drug information session. Drug types, street names, telltale symptoms, prices and addictive potentials were covered as well as policing and treatment approaches. Thanks to the administrative staff of CCH for their attendance and interest. Although they deal with these issues more often than most parents, their concern for the students at CCH was evident. Thanks as well to Const. Waage for explaining the law, the drugs and their effects, and to Chris Windle from AADAC for her presentation on the use of drugs and how to help when illegal drug use occurs. We had the opportunity to pick up many excellent pamphlets on parenting, teens and the drug scene. It was refreshing to hear the majority of teens do not use illegal drugs. Most are well behaved and law abiding. Those who do use drugs are often just experimenting and it was good to learn how to tell the difference between a brief episode and a serious addiction problem. Not surprisingly, it was pointed out how parents can help by being aware of what their children are doing in and out of school and how keeping students interested and busy can be a deterrent to illegal drug use. The excellent example of the participation and enthusiasm shared by students in the recent Joseph production at St. Francis shows the way. If students are busy in stimulating, enjoyable learning activities, they have no time for drugs. Bruce Elniski Lethbridge - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin