Pubdate: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Author: Naoibh O'Connor Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) SCHOOL BOARD WANTS KIDS TO JUST SAY NO Trustee Touts Drug Prevention Program The Vancouver School Board wants to expand a fledgling drug and alcohol abuse prevention program, a pilot project that began at Sir Charles Tupper and Kitsilano secondary schools in 2006/07. Called SACY--the School-Age Children and Youth substance abuse prevention program--it's since expanded to seven schools, but officials envision it being implemented across the district. The program is aimed at prevention, delaying teens' use of illegal substances and reducing drug and alcohol use for those already immersed in the culture by focusing on four areas: youth, parents, teacher training and classroom curriculum, and policy. School board chairman Clarence Hansen said the board needs financial support from the provincial and federal governments to help cover the annual $2 million cost. The program is featured at a City of Vancouver four pillars drug strategy meeting next week that's focused on one of the pillars--prevention. "It's always been there, but never as a major focus of the four pillars," Hansen said. "I think the fact they're willing to listen to us means that we now truly do have four pillars and the focus on this is going to make this a worthwhile enterprise." Hansen calls the SACY program unique, partly because of its focus on both students and their families. "There's nothing in Canada to compare with what's being done in Vancouver," he said. "My concern is that there's a drug culture out there and as good as kids are, they need to be exposed to what is out there and how they can make choices about what's going to be tempting." One of the program goals involves forming relationships with teens, particularly at-risk ones. SACY clubs are created to give students a voice to talk to adults about drug and alcohol issues, according to project coordinator Art Steinmann. Teens can also participate in community service activities, such as handing out food to addicts. "We don't believe all kids are using drugs, but we also don't believe none are," Steinmann said. Parents learn to communicate with and stay connected to their kids through workshops. A six-week series for Spanish-speaking parents is scheduled for April. Eight teachers at the Grade 6 level, meanwhile, are working with the Centre for Addictions Research B.C. to test out a series of lessons as part of the teacher training and curriculum development portion of SACY. Eventually, it's hoped the lessons will target students between Grade 6 and 12. The final element of SACY deals with policy. A committee looked at how students are handled if they show up at school drunk or stoned. Typically, they were suspended for three days. A new approach sees teens being taken off school grounds where youth workers help them focus on issues such as self-awareness and how substance abuse affects their lives. Although the program started with secondary schools, the goal is to include feeder elementary schools, and ultimately to create a kindergarten to Grade 12 comprehensive program. Steinmann maintains the $2 million cost of an expanded program is worth it since it would reach close to 60,000 students. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom