Trial rescue att te VT AS z NEWS photo Neil Lucer:> THE NORTH Vancouver District Fire Departm>nt and the North Vancouver B.C. Ambulance Service unit assist a mock victim as part of an awareness exercise at Lynn Canyon Park. The event was held recently to stress the danger of jumping from the canyon’s sheer cliff walls into the natural pe='!s. The demonstration was put on by the Spinal Cord Injury Prevention program. Scientologists, Friday. August 17, 1990 - North Shore News - 3 medical profession lock horns over drug A CHURCH of Scientology group, opposed to the use of mind-altering drugs and currently on a crusade 10 rid the North Shore of ‘*zombies’’, is ‘‘a bunch of fanatics’? according to a Children’s Hospital doctor. By Peggy Trendell-Whittaker News Reporter The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) recently hung a banner, stating “Psychiatric drugs make zombies out of school children,’’ across the Jones Avenue overpass at Up- per Levels Highway. The group, co-founded in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and psychiatrist Thomas Szaz, is against all mind-altering drugs and is lobbying to have the drug Ritalin banned. FUtalin, says CCHR director Joanna Young, is used to treat school children who have been labelled hyperactive. The deug is also, she claims, the nuntber-one replacement for heroin on the street. But Dr. Derryck Smith, head of psychiatry at Children's Hospital, says to compare Ritalin with other drugs including cocaine is ‘‘grossly unfair.”’ Smith questions conclusions drawn by the CCHR, members of which he calls a ‘tbunch of fanat- ics...with an axe to grind.’” Smith says CCHR conclusions are based on anecdotal information culled from people who have had nega- tive experiences with psychiatric medicine. “What happens to the people who benefited from it, or the people who weren't treated?’" asks Smith. “They studiously avoid mentioning them.”’ “Ritalin is a highly effective, safe medication,’’ Smith insists. “There is no controversy about Ritalin except in the minds of Scientologists.’” But the CCHR is concerned that parents are not given enough details about the drug when it is prescribed to their children. According to one of the group’s press releases, ‘‘Ritalin is an ad- dictive amphetamine-type drug that acts as a chemical straight jacket on young children. It causes numerous adverse effects such as stunted growth, uncon- rolled muscle tics, twitches and spasms. As with all ‘speed’ drugs, suicide is the major complication in Ritalin withdrawal.”* It’s not just Ritalin that the Unions insist BC Rail stop contracting out jobs From page 2 According to BC Rail, wage tates for its unionized employees between 1973 and 1983 outpaced all other wage and economic in- dicators. While BC Rail employees’ wage rates jumped 140 per cent (non-compounded), CN/CP rates increased 105 per cent. International Woodworkers co” America (IWA} rates increased 125 per cent. The company argues BC Rail’s unionized employees outpaced in- flaiion by 40 per cent during the 10-year period. From 1984 to 1990, BC Rail's wage increases accounted for a total hike of 16.5 per cent. BC Rail maintains that its unionized employees are still paid better than other industrial employees. The last three-year contract be- tween BC Rail and the Council of Trade Unions expired on June 30. Under the terms of that agree- ment, BC Rail has the right to contract-aut wark, The unions want to see that contracting-out clause removed. {t is an especially contentious issue for the union that repairs locomotives for BC Rail. The company recently took delivery of 22 new GE locomotives and members of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters maintain those engines, and the union claims the maintenance package accompany- ing the new locomotives calls for parts to be repaired in the United States. Another outstanding issue is BC Rail’s desire to phase out cabooses. United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters union president Ray Callard was not available for comment to press time. NEWS photo Mike W: BRIAN BEAUMONT is one of the members of the Cit- izens Commission on Human Rights which was demonstrating on the Upper Levels highway recently against the treatment of children with psychiatric drugs. The commission was co-founded by the Church of Scientology in 1969. CCHR targets, however. The group claims that all mind-altering drugs are of no benefit to indi- viduals experiencing problems. And in most cases mind-aitering drugs are harmful to people, ac- cording to the CCHR. Young believes that peopie suf- fering menta! problems are treated much more effectively when allowed iG sperate in a safe en- vironment and gradually en- couraged to face the underlying emotional trauma that led to their disturbances. “‘} think people should feel that nobody is forcing them to put their children on drugs,"” .oncurs Smith. ‘‘There is no quéscic::t that Ritalin is sometimes used inap- propriately. (But) you always have to measure what you're treating against the treatment.” He says that children with at- tention deficits usually have a much better prognosis if their functioning is improved with the help of medication. Although many doctors and family members believe that psycho-active medications do help people, CCHR member Brian Beaumont insists that ‘‘what we see is people getting very quiet and not saying anything anymore. They turn into zombies. That’s the end product of psychiatric treatment.”’ When asked how parents might determine what is best for their children, Smith advised parents to seek out as many opinions as they feel are necessary to make an in- formed decision. Parents should also have confidence in those they are seeking advice from. He recommends the book Your Hyperactive Child by Barbara In- gersoll for parents wrestling with questions about their child's behavior. For more information about the werk of CCHR in Vancouver, call 681-9121, loc. 39. index B Automotives @ Classified Ads & Ecolnfo @ Editorial Page Hi Home & Garden 8 Mailbox B® Paul St. Pierre @ What's Going On Weather Friday and Saturday, cloudy with a chance of a few showers. Highs near 21°C. Second Class Registration Number 3885