Pubdate: Tue, 04 Mar 2008 Source: Fairview Post (CN AB) Copyright: 2008 Fairview Post Contact: http://www.fairviewpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3369 Author: Chris Zwick Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) PARENTS LEARN 'THE TRUTH ABOUT DRUGS' Parents need to present their children with clear choices and consequences when it comes to drug use--either don't do drugs, or get out of the house. Dare to Care spokesman and public speaker Dwayne Peace was back in Fairview last week to talk to parents about drugs and about how conscientious parenting techniques can lead to drug-free kids. The Fairview Drug Awareness Coalition sponsored Peace's return and he took the opportunity to speak to parents on Wednesday evening and FHS students on Thursday morning and afternoon. Peace is a retired Calgary police officer with 25 years on the force. He was also a resource officer in several Calgary schools after his retirement, both of which helped him develop the skills and knowledge to talk to parents and kids about some of the biggest challenges facing today's youth, including drugs. Peace delivered what was essentially the same presentation to the youth and adults over the two days, but the adults experienced the full, uncensored presentation on Wednesday night which included common signs of drug-use in kids, common methods of how kids hide their drug-use and tips on how to present choices and consequences to youth. About 26 people attended the session, many of which were drug coalition members. "Unfortunately," said Peace, "the parents that really need to be here tonight, aren't here." He laid out some of his core beliefs that are the basis of his presentation. "Parents are not aware of youth activities, because if they were aware, incidences would be drastically reduced," he said, noting that many parents try to be their child's friend rather than a parent, and are not willing to accept that their children can in fact do wrong. "It's time to take the Superman cape off," he said. "I believe that if you give kids a choice to choose from, they will choose, but if you tell them what they're supposed to do, they will rebel," said Peace, emphasizing that consequences for the wrong choices need to be connected to actions and must have an educational component "that will assist in lifelong intelligent decision making." Peace also went into brief overviews of several common drugs that kids can be exposed to everyday. He talked about marijuana, methamphetamines, ecstasy and GHB (date-rape drug, roofies) among others. Today's marijuana is not like the drug of the 60s and 70s, Peace told the parents. The active ingredient in modern marijuana is far more concentrated because of hydroponic growing methods, he said. There is also a greater risk of today's marijuana being laced with other drugs. Peace also talked about the addictive properties of methamphetamines and commented on just how dangerous the substance is, showing clips of users and images of the scars left by so-called 'meth-bugs'. Parents also viewed a video which starred several U.S. high school students who were shown the consequences of their actions through simulated real-life situations. The first girl was found to have drugs in her possession and was charged and jailed for it. Another girl was raped at a party after taking unknown substances. One of the boys was pronounced dead after taking ecstasy and several other drugs at a party, and another was put into a long-term coma. The video went on to follow another group of drug-using teens through a morgue, as they were shown real organs from people who had died as a result of inhaling solvents. The teens in the video were apparently rattled as were several people in the audience as they watched. The local high school students were showed the same video the next day. Peace wrapped the presentation up by taking comments and questions from the parents, and also heard from FHS principal Aaron Lloyd who spoke of Peace in the highest regard. Lloyd told the parents not to be under any illusions because many of the topics breached by Peace were actually realities in Fairview, whether it's drugs, teen pregnancy or recreational alcoholism, and many of these instances could be rectified if parents stopped enabling their children. Peace encouraged the parents to share what they had learned that night with other parents and to bring five others the next time he came back to Fairview. Those Fairview parents will not have to wait that long for a drug education though as FCSS will be holding an information session March 18 on how to drug-proof your kids at the Audit and Safety Building across from the Fairplex at 7 pm. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom