Pubdate: Thu, 23 Nov 2006 Source: Observer, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2006, OSPREY Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.theobserver.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1676 Author: Lindsey Coad Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) ENSURING THAT KIDS KNOW THE RISKS Program Tells Youths About Life'S Hazards Grade 4 student Alyssa Bachus is huddled over a quiz with her classmates. A question asks, "Can binge drinking lead to problems such as car crashes, poisoning, fights, unplanned pregnancies and various STDs?" They answer yes. "I learned that here. If someone that I know did that, I could tell them that's not right to do," the Port Lambton student said in a busy room packed with her peers from across Lambton County. About 1,200 students in Grades 4 to 6 will stop at the Racing Against Drugs program being held at the River City Centre this week. The annual event, hosted by the RCMP and community organizations, is a preventative safety fair meant to promote healthy lifestyle choices in adolescence. Each booth tackles a different facet: drugs, drinking and gambling along with the pitfalls of MSN chat, tattoos and piercings. "Our aim is to really give the kids the correct information. We know they're going to be asked to make decisions very soon," said RCMP Cpl. Ray Valiquette. Port Lambton student Brendan Johnston, 9, learned why it's not a good idea to drink and drive. "You can get in accidents and you'll face the consequences dying and not being able to walk," he said. The underlying message of the fun day complete with mini car racing and interactive sessions that let kids test out an emergency stretcher bed is that it's OK to say no. The Lambton Drug Awareness Action Committee was one of the main organizers. "We're concerned about the drug use in the schools and the peer pressure that's out there in the younger set," said chairperson Art Speed. Sarnia Police, Lambton OPP and Sarnia Fire Rescue had booths on hand. Terry Easterby, a county health promotion officer who works in substance abuse prevention, said alcohol is the number one drug because it's accessible and socially acceptable. Alcohol, marijuana and tobacco are the most commonly used drugs among students in Grades 7 to 12, according to the 2005 survey of Drug Use Among Ontario Students by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. "The youth of today tend to make risky choices. They do things they normally wouldn't do to find out who they are," Easterby said. JoAnne Marshall, a Grade 5 teacher at St. Anne in Sarnia, looked on as a funeral home rep gave a presentation about a boy who died after using crack cocaine for the first time. "I think we have a tendency to want to protect our children from the issues. But I think it's best to inform them to help them make better choices." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek