Pubdate: Wed, 01 Nov 2006
Source: Lake Country Calendar (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Lake Country News
Contact:  http://www.lakecountrynews.net
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2229

DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE

You've Had a Lifetime to Talk to Your Kids About Drug and Alcohol 
Abuse. What Are You Waiting For?

It is a good question, one that all parents and guardians of children 
need to embrace and answer via appropriate action.

A new provincial government initiative, which specifically targets 
Crystal Meth, is a proactive attempt to place the responsibility for 
preventing kids from taking the drug squarely on the shoulders of parents.

It's a great initiative but it doesn't address the much bigger 
problem that exists in many BC communities, including Lake Country. 
That's the rapidly expanding use of marijuana and alcohol by our youth.

Society has somehow managed to keep it's collective head in the sand, 
disregarding the damage done to a youth's brain, or any brain for 
that matter, by marijuana and alcohol abuse. The idea that has 
surfaced over the past decade, implying these two drugs are somehow 
less harmful to kids, is a myth created by ignorance and 
determination not to take responsibility as parents.

Lake Country is party to a Regional District of the Central Okanagan 
initiative to hire a Drug Policy Coordinator as part of the Four 
Pillars Coalition approach which operates on four basic programs: 
Enforcement, Prevention/Education, Treatment, and Harm Reduction.

The community needs to continue to enthusiastically support these 
initiatives and address the growing problem of drug and alcohol abuse.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine