Pubdate: Wed, 06 Jan 2010 Source: Pilot, The (CN NF) Copyright: 2010 Transcontinental Media Contact: http://www.lportepilot.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4189 Author: Pam Snow IT'S OUT THERE RCMP Presentation Focuses On Drug Abuse Information presented at Lewisporte Intermediate on Dec. 3 by Lewisporte RCMP and guest presenters shocked many parents who attended. Corporal Ann Noel of Drug and Organized Crime Services spoke to those in attendance on various drugs in the community and expressed concerns relating to teenagers abusing over the counter and prescription medications. "The teens are gaining access to over the counter pills in stores, homes and at school," she said. "Normally, when we think about drugs we think about Johnny on the street corner selling a bag of marijuana or a bunch of pills, but unfortunately the whole thing is changing. It's our little Sarah or Johnny at home who are jumping into the medicine cabinet." "Pharm parties" are also becoming a growing trend and Cpl. Noel wanted parents to know the value of locking their medicine cabinets. "If you look at most Newfoundland homes, medicine is kept in the bathroom in a vanity or behind a mirror on the wall and when a child goes into a bathroom, they can lock the door behind them and do whatever they want while they are in there," she said. "Your children's friends can lock the door behind them and do whatever they want, too. So, now what teens are doing is skimming a few pills off the top of the pill bottles, going to a party with a pocket full of pills and throwing it into a bowl that gets passed around throughout the night. So, as they are consuming alcohol they are taking a purple one or a blue one, until they get a different reaction. "That is a scary, scary combination and it can be very deadly." Cpl. Noel said this proves to be a frustrating situation for hospital staff as well, when a teen comes to emergency and the doctors don't know what pills they have ingested. "When the friends finally decide to bring these kids to the hospital after a party goes horribly wrong, the staff at the hospital doesn't know what the teen has taken," she said. "Is it 'uppers'? Is it 'downers'? - They have no way of knowing." Cpl. Noel is also the provincial coordinator for Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) and encourages parents and caregivers to practice the acronym "SAFE" which includes storing or locking away any medications, awareness of what medication and how much is within the household, following directions from the doctor of pharmacist in regards to dosage of each medication and educate and inform children on the dangers of taking over the counter or prescription drugs without the permission or supervision of an adult. "Store all drugs under lock and key, like a liquor cabinet or up high if you have a small child," said Cpl. Noel. "It comes down to knowing your child and knowing your child's friends that come in and out of the house with them. "And talk to your children and tell them that Mom and Dad are the only one's allowed to give them any pills." Cpl. Noel said she hopes parents and teens understand the growing amount of availability there is when it comes to drugs and the dangers of consuming anything not recommended by a doctor of pharmacist. "Our impaired driving by medicines have gone up significantly," said Cpl. Noel. "It is amazing what we find in some people's systems and they are behind the wheel on the same roads that you and I drive. We have a number of RCMP officers now trained to recognize the signs on the road, but we have to rely on the parents to recognize the signs at home." - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Student drug use survey The following survey results are based on a 2007 student drug use survey that randomly selected classes and schools in Newfoundland and Labrador of Grade 7, 9 and Levels I and III students. The survey asked student's questions dealing with experiences with substance use, gambling and associated risk behaviours. The following results are based on the 3,848 students that responded. FINDINGS: - - In 2007, 41.4 per cent of students did not use alcohol, cigarettes or any other drug in the 12 months prior. This was an increase of 36 per cent reported in 2003. - - Alcohol, cannabis and tobacco remain the most commonly used substances by Newfoundland and Labrador students. - - In the survey, 52 per cent reported using alcohol at least once in the year, while 30 per cent reported using cannabis at least once that year. - - Five per cent reported using cocaine at least once and seven per cent reported using ecstasy at least once that year. - - Additionally, 30 per cent of students reported having consumed alcohol to the point of drunkenness on at least one occasion in the 30 days prior to the survey. - - Less then seven per cent of the students actually purchased the alcohol themselves; 26 per cent got it from home, with or without parental permission. - - Average age of first time use of cannabis was 13.5 years. - - Sixteen per cent of licensed drivers in Grade 10 and 12 reported driving a vehicle within an hour of drinking alcohol, while 30 per cent of licensed drivers in the same grade's reported driving within an hour of using cannabis. - - Seventeen per cent of students reported being passengers in a vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking and 22 per cent have been passengers in a vehicle driven by someone who had been using cannabis. - - Of students who had sex during the year, 35 per cent reported that on at least one occasion they had unplanned sex after using alcohol or other drugs. Information courtesy of RCMP Cpl. Ann Noel of the Drug and Organized Crime Awareness Services, Central Newfoundland. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart