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
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin