Pubdate: Sat, 17 May 2014
Source: Prince Albert Daily Herald (CN SN)
Copyright: 2014 Prince Albert Daily Herald
Contact:  http://www.paherald.sk.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1918
Author: Tyler Clarke

CELEBRATE 5/21 WITHOUT MARIJUANA

April 20 - commonly referred to as "4/20" - is a day on which
marijuana smokers convene at Parliament Hill to advocate for the
legalization of pot.

Now there's a counterpoint, with the Prince Albert Addiction Awareness
Committee's inaugural event set for May 21 - a day they now refer to
as "5/21."

In advance of the inaugural 5/21 celebration, addictions counsellor
Shelly Carriere took a moment to explain the effort, which will begin
with a noon barbecue at Wesmor Community School.

"Our overall theme is to create a whole new attitude where it's not
'just' pot, it's a drug and we want people to learn to cope in a
better way," she explained of the Wednesday afternoon celebration set
to take place at Wesmor Community School.

"We want to encourage people, if only for the day, to put it down for
the day and try something else."

When addictions are discussed, the conversational typically veers
toward alcohol, Carriere said, noting that this sentiment is
particularly true in Prince Albert.

"What do we focus on?" she asked. "When we focus on addiction that's a
broad spectrum with different topics."

By the age of 16, 70.6 per cent of local youth have consumed alcohol
and 54 per cent have drank to excess.

Although these statistics are staggering, marijuana use should not
fall by the wayside of public discourse, Carriere argued.

With 33.5 of the city's Grade 9 students reporting marijuana use
(twice the national average of 17.1 per cent), the drug's role in
Prince Albert is worth consideration. "The No. 1 concern, I think, is
that it's used as a coping tool and it's not a healthy coping tool,"
Carriere said, adding that 5/21 is intended to "plant a seed that
maybe there's an alternative."

In addition to encouraging local marijuana smokers to butt out for the
day, the Prince Albert Addictions Awareness Committee is co-hosting an
event at Wesmor Community School beginning with a barbecue at noon.

Various activities will fill the afternoon, including a floor hockey
game between Carlton Comprehensive Public High School students and
adults.

Open to the public, the afternoon community event is a means of
offering alternatives to marijuana.

"That's why we thought of the giveaways that we came up with,"
Carriere said.

Stress balls to deal with stress, journals and pencils to write down
feelings or lists of alternatives, water bottles to hydrate and take
care of one's body, and candy to satiate the hand-to-mouth action will
be up for grabs.

The candies are Life Savers, Carriere said, noting that although the
metaphor is somewhat cheesy it's worth contemplation in relation to
drug use.

Also worthy of consideration are the following self- assessment
questions that Carriere hopes to see those who smoke marijuana
consider during a 5/21 without the drug:

Is pot use for me? Am I addicted? Can I quit if I want to? Am I
dependent? Do I want to feel better? Can I get help? Do I have all the
information? Are there other ways to cope? Can I say no?

The Prince Albert Addictions Awareness Committee formed during last
year's Saskatchewan Addictions Awareness Week, which is held the third
week in November.

Consisting of addictions counsellors, concerned parents, recovering
addicts and various community stewards, the organization was founded
to host events throughout the year, Carriere explained.

"We saw a huge need to have more than one week a year with addiction
awareness education."

Wednesday's event is open to the public and will begin at noon and is
expected to carry on through the early afternoon.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D