Pubdate: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 Nanaimo Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608 Author: Faiza Wasim 'JUST SAY NO' FAILS KIDS, SAYS GROUP A national youth and student drug reform organization says young Canadians don't put much stock in the federal government's anti-drug approach, so it has created a new website it says may better educate young people about the risks they take by using drugs. Canadian Students for a Sensible Drug Policy designed www.not4me.org, which it says moves away from the government's "just say no" approach, which it calls ineffective. "One of the biggest failings of previous youth drug education programs is that young people don't take them seriously," said Caleb Chepesiuk, CSSDP staff member. We are providing a resource that gives young people serious, honest information on drugs and their risks and tips on how they can keep themselves and their friends safe through either avoiding drugs or by recognizing and preventing problematic substance use patterns before they start. It fails to acknowledge that young people use drugs." Explaining the government strategy, Tamara Kalnins, 24, and a member of the board of directors for CSSDP said the "just say no" strategy she says is failing to engage young people. The key is to talk with young people, not at them, she says. CSSDP is particularly concerned with the government's decision to exclude alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceuticals from its prevention strategies. The group, which gave a media briefing on Parliament Hill Tuesday, said it expected the website to be up and running late Tuesday. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake