Pubdate: Fri, 17 Apr 2009
Source: Caledon Enterprise, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2009 The Caledon Enterprise
Contact:  http://www.northpeel.com/br/caledon/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4318
Author: Heather Abrey

PARENTS GET THE LOW DOWN ON DRUGS

Parents and students at Humberview Secondary School had the 
opportunity to learn about drugs and some of the dangers they pose 
during a presentation recently.

Caledon OPP Constable Sherry Thompson and Nicole Classen, youth 
substance abuse counsellor with the Brampton YMCA, met with the group 
of parents and students after school hours to present information 
about drugs, as well as answer some questions.

The first slide was an attention grabber, laying out statistics like 
14 per cent of students have driven drunk and 29 per cent have been a 
passenger in the car of a drunk driver.

"Sixteen per cent of students admit to having a drug problem. They 
also think they can take care of it themselves," Thomspson added to 
the information that startled many of the parents.

The presentation broke down substances into categories - stimulants 
and depressants, also known as uppers and downers, as well as hallucinogens.

"For stimulants, the biggest risk I see around my client group is the 
risk of damage to the heart," explained Classen. Stimulants can 
include drugs like cocaine, crystal meth and the popular rave drug, ecstasy.

Ecstasy, or MDMA, is a synthetic drug that comes in the form of a 
small pill. It causes a feeling of euphoria and elation, making the 
user extra sensitive to touch. Thompson and Classen showed what 
parents should keep their eyes open for, seemingly benign items that 
could actually be drug paraphernalia. Pacifiers are often sucked on 
to prevent ecstasy users from grinding their teeth. Items such as 
lollipops and ring pops can also be used. These pills are small and 
innocent looking, often coming in brightly coloured pills stamped 
with small pictures or symbols, and are small enough to fit within a 
pez dispenser.

"(Ecstasy) is very popular right now and it's very addictive," said 
Thompson, with Classen adding, "The ones that I hear are going around 
the most are pink or orange ladies, which are very popular, but also 
very risky."

"Ecstasy today is completely different from what it was even five, 10 
years ago," explained the drug counsellor of the artificial 
ingredients used to create the substance. "You have no idea what 
you're getting."

Another drug that the pair covered, and one not generally taken 
willingly, is the date rape drug. There are actually two that often 
fall under this category - GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) and 
Rohypnol, or roofies. This drug is usually slipped into a drink in 
order to incapacitate the victim, although there have been incidents 
of it being used recreationally.

"It's not just girls that need to be cautious, and it's not just 
sexual assault you're at risk for," warned Classen, who told the 
group a story about a couple who both drank spiked drinks and were 
robbed, with the woman possibly sexually assaulted. "It doesn't have 
to be an alcoholic drink either."

Several videos, both serious and humorous, were used to demonstrate 
the effects of many different drugs during the presentation, and 
photos demonstrated the ravages of drugs like crystal meth on the 
body over time.

The presentation spanned the most commonly used drugs - alcohol and 
marijuana - as well as those that may be lesser known to many 
parents, such as ketamine, an animal tranquilizer that also goes by 
the name of 'Special K'.

The pair discussed possible warning signs parents should be aware of 
in their teens, and also what they can do, including role modeling.

"If you smoke marijuana in the home, your kids know... they're on to 
you," said Classen, who educates about drugs and counsels on a 
confidential basis. "One of the best things I've heard from kids who 
have very supportive parents is they feel they can be open and honest 
and forward."

Both presenters stuck around to answer questions, both in a Q and A 
session and one-on-one with concerned parents.

The informational visit was organized by the Humberview School 
Council, a volunteer parent group that works closely with the school 
and its principal, Rick Tredwell.

"The school council is generally new every year... we wanted to do 
something to put our mark on being a parent volunteer body," said 
Sharon Rego, Council Chair. The council put together a questionnaire 
to decide what topic the parent population was most interested in 
learning about.

"We conducted it through the call-out system, which was very neat 
because not many schools do that and it's quite advanced," said Rego. 
"It was definitely a very high, positive response rate."

About 498 parents completed the three-minute survey, and the most 
interest was in a drug information seminar.

"Our mandate was to engage parents... it's very difficult at the high 
school level at times," said Rego. "We invited both the parents and 
the students to come together for the evening.

"We're hopeful that in some small way we've provided information to 
families, or maybe touched some families or helped some students."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart