Pubdate: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 The Morning Star Contact: http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352 Author: Patricia A. Donahue Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) PARENTS AND SCHOOLS MUST FIGHT BACK Recently I attended an evening presentation at Vernon Secondary School organized by the district Substance Abuse Prevention Counsellor, Doug Rogers, and included Vernon Jubilee Hospital's Emergency Department physician Dr. Chris Cunningham. The subject was drug abuse amongst our youth, and an update of the latest drugs on the street market. Part of my past work in the late '80s and '90s involved drug abuse counselling. As well, I raised my three children in Vancouver and recalled how vigilant I was forced to be, at that time, concerning drug pushing amongst youth. The requirements for reasonable parenting had already stepped up by then, and for large cities had already pushed well beyond the previous parenting requirements. And so I took myself to this offering at VSS to upgrade my outdated information. Was I, and I'm sure most of the audience too, shockingly surprised by the recent developments that were brought to our attention that evening. So dire was the information that Dr. Cunningham slipped in a few scenery slides to relieve the heaviness of such a subject. For over two hours, both professionals covered the list of drugs, a third of which are not only new, but are cheap and easily accessible. If you've been told that marijuana is harmless, these professionals told us straight out that it is not. Marijuana is not, at all, the same item it was in the 1960s and '70s. Today's joint is more potent and has been added to, been laced with more harmful drugs, including crystal meth, with the aim of physiologically hooking the user. It has already been scientifically proven that ingesting or smoking marijuana is harmful, in fact, it's been shown that thousands of non-regenerating brain cells are killed per joint smoked. And with long-term use, social skills and problem-solving skills wane to below basic levels. I won't go into the long list of dangerous drugs like ecstasy and rohypnol (date-rape drug) and their street names that was presented that evening. For me, the most stunning to hear about was crystal meth. Here is an excerpt from research: "When crystal meth was introduced to a study group 90 per cent became addicted after the first use. And tolerance begins after the first use." And this piece of information: "It is well known that crystal meth is 300 per cent more powerful than crack cocaine. And most of us know that meth can easily and inexpensively be concocted in a basement making its street cost a minute fraction of the cost of cocaine or even marijuana." Dr. Cunningham gave an example of a teen admitted to ER showing after-effects of crystal meth. The teen adamantly stated they had no intention, nor knowledge of taking meth, they had only smoked a joint (marijuana). Therein lies the enormous danger to our young people. A cheap and long lasting high and drugs being laced into what a teen may believe to be, a harmless drug, such as smoking a joint. It is an understatement to say that the destruction to physical and mental/emotional functioning is tremendous. And get this. The height of this drug activity amongst teens takes place mostly between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. I was very impressed by the prevention program Doug Rogers has spearheaded in School District No. 22. In my opinion, it is certainly leading edge and thankfully comes at a critical time. To my knowledge, I have not seen this initiated in the Greater Vancouver schools. He says he gets consultation calls often and even as far away as Texas, from professionals in the schools who've got wind of what he is doing. Presently, Mr. Rogers is putting in the works, through the Ministry of Education, a six-level education curriculum in drug use education aimed at prevention. He urges parents to be bold in stepping forward to speak to their children. "Don't hold back in speaking about the dangers of drug use, even down to children at Grade 4 level, where this threat has already showed up." The signs that warrant watching are: changes in attitude, in performance and behaviour. Dr. Cunningham could not stress enough the need for parents to observe and spend time with their children. He said self esteem and a feeling of belonging goes a longer way than you might think in preventing a wander down the drug path. Parenting during my generation was not easy, as I can vouch for, but nowadays I believe it is far more difficult. To parents, I say be vocal and use educational moments with your children to inform them. And, to all schools, now is the time to come aboard and get more aggressive in fighting back against what has already begun to destroy young lives, that you, along with parents, have been working so hard to nurture and build. Doug Rogers will be presenting two more of these evening session during the school year. Patricia A. Donahue - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman