Pubdate: Fri, 20 Apr 2007
Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Peace Arch News
Contact:  http://www.peacearchnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333
Author: Tracy Holmes
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

VIDEO TARGETS TEENS

High School Confidential Offers Reality Check

Briana holds nothing back as she speaks out against drug and alcohol 
use in a video making its way across Fraser Health Authority.

Anger simmering under the surface escapes in a stream of tears down 
her cheeks. Her voice is raw with emotion as she shares some of the 
horrors she's seen -- girls raped, family and friends drop dead, 
babies born addicted to heroin.

"You can't imagine how those kids, they just have no chance in life," 
she says, her voice breaking.

"I've seen so many people just drop like flies."

Cut to a clip of Langley Fine Arts students belting out Sugar Train a cappella.

Heather is one of more than a dozen students in the choir, proud of 
the fact she's also teaching herself guitar. She's never tried drugs 
and doesn't plan to.

There's just too much at stake.

"It follows you. You'll never live it down if you do something 
stupid. You lose your credibility," she said.

Over to Matt, who's in fine form as he practices boxing moves on a 
red punching bag. When he's stressed, he chooses physical activity 
over drugs or alcohol. He's made it clear to his friends drugs aren't 
part of his program.

"If you just stand up in the beginning, your friends are going to 
respect that," he says.

"The future I want to do, what I want to do in the future, does not 
include drugs."

It's straight talk Kevin Letourneau hopes will hit home.

The Peace Arch Community Services addictions manager is co-producer 
of High School Confidential, a drug prevention video with a unique 
twist -- the views of youth who've chosen not to do drugs, and why.

They're intermingled with insights from teens who've tried drugs and 
alcohol, and what impacts those choices made on their lives.

"It set me back," a pregnant Rachelle says of her ecstasy habit.

"It's not worth it."

For Amber, 13, getting drunk lead to a bout of antibiotics -- after 
contracting chlamydia from an unprotected one-night stand.

"Alcohol makes you stupid," she says.

Two hundred copies of the 25-minute DVD were released across the 
Fraser Health Authority this week. It's already been shown in some 
Peninsula classrooms.

It's hoped the hard-hitting message will reduce substance use and 
abuse among youth, and encourage them to find healthy ways of 
managing stress. Also, to impress that it is cool to be drug-free.

"It gives us faith in the future of mankind to see these youth out 
there -- they care about what their parents think, they care about 
their future," Letourneau said.

He commended participants for their openness and honesty.

"It does take a special kind of kid to stick their neck out," he said.

The video is the third Letourneau's helped produce, with funding from 
an FHA Addictions Prevention grant. Death by Jib and Cold as Ice 
focused on crystal meth.

FHA's addictions leader, Dr. Akbar Bayanzadeh, expects High School 
Confidential will be a powerful tool in influencing youths' attitudes 
towards drug and alcohol use. Information and guidance can go a long 
way to empowering good choices, he said.

For more information on High School Confidential, Kevin Letourneau 
may be reached at 604-538-2522, ext. 233.

Or e-mail him at  ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman