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.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake