Week focuses on choosing positive alternatives

TO ENCOURAGE awareness of
abuse problems in our society dur-
ing Drug Awareness Week from
Nov. 15 to 21, organizers are tell-
ing people to make a difference
this year.

“What's the difference? You,
and what you do with you.”

That is the message from
Alcohol and Drug Programs
(ADP) and the provincial
ministries responsible for health
and seniors. As sponsors for Drug
Awareness Week, they are sending
their message across the province.

“Our goal for Drug Awareness
Weck is to encourage young peo-
ple to make a difference in their
lives,’’ said health minister
Elizabeth Cull. ‘‘We want to sup-

port them to make a positive dif-
ference in their own lives, their
schools and their communities by
making healthy choices."

Rather than focusing on the
negative aspects of substance
abuse, Drug Awareness Week or-
ganizers have taken a positive ap-
proach by encouraging people to
see the benefits that a person
derives from making healthy
lifestyle choices, according to
Drug Awareness Week. media
spokesperson Jon Contorines.

Hundreds of activities are plan-
ned in communities throughout
the province to celebrate and
promote awareness and prevention
of alcohol abuse and the misuse
of other drugs, including presctip-

tion drugs.

The Lower Mainland has seen
an increase in community events
this year with the community
responding enthusiastically to the
program, said Contorines.

Loca! activities will be happen-
ing through North Shore schools
as well as other local organiza-
tions.

Since 1987, thousands of indi-
viduals and communities
throughout B.C. and across
Canada have united to celebrate
and promote Drug Awareness
Week. This annual national event
focuses: on alcohol abuse and
other drug misuse and provides
opportunities to:
® -slebrate individual and com-

Local and provincial organizations help

LOOKING FOR heip?

These focal agencies and pro-
vincial resources can offer help to
people who think they may have a
substance abuse problem:
© B.C. Prevention Resource Cen-
tre, 874-8452, provides informa-
tion on drug misuse, including in-
formation about prevention con-
tacts, organizations, programs,
materials, and information. The
centre publishes a quarterly
tesource catalogue and provides a
prevention and treatment video
lending service for organizations

in B.C. :
@ TRYLINE, 1-800-663-1441, a
toll-free information and referral
service for people seeking
assistance with drug-related prob-
lems. This service is available 24
hours and day, seven days a week.
@ Alternatives Substance Abuse
Program, 984-0255, offers
counselling services for people
with substance abuse problems.
Their North Vancouver office is
open Monday to Friday from 8:30
a.m, to 4:30 p.m.

@ Seaview Alcohol and Drug

Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacists are dedicated
to being a vital part of your community
health care team. We take pleasure in
answering your questions, whether they be
about a specific medication cr any health care
product. We really are approachable.

So take some time to get to know us.

We're good people to talk to.

"CHUCK WILLETT
16th & Marine

Programs, 926-9260, offering
counselling services from their
West Vancouver office, open
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to
noon and | to 4:30 p.m.

@ Vancouver Crisis Line, 733-
4111, for people in crisis situa-
tions who need immediate help.

@ Safer, 879-9251, suicide
prevention line,

@ Alcoholics Anonymous,

3933.

434-

@ Narcotics 873-

1018.

Anonymous,

Parkgate Village
North Van

ROGER SMEETON NORMA McLEOD

munity successes;

@ promote community awareness
and participation in the prevention
of substance abuse; and

@ focus on the problems of, and
solutions for, the misuse of
alcohol and other drugs.

This year, ADP is highlighting
how young people in B.C. can
make a difference in their own
lives, their schools and their .
communities by working towards
their goals and choosing healthy
alternatives to drugs.

“We have tremendous con-
fidence in B.C.’s young people,”
said Dr. Wayne Mitic, director of
prevention services for ADP.
“That’s why we're sending a posi-
tive message directed to youth for
this. year’s Drug Awareness
Week.”’ .

ADP has developed a poster
and pamphlet combination
package geared towards youth
that encourages and supports
them to seek out the difference in
their lives. Nearly 100,000 copies
of these posters and pamphlets
will be distributed by community
organizations during Drug
Awareness Week.

This week, 150 high school stu-
dents — including North Shore
students — have spent two days
developing promotional material.
The best of these will be chosen
today.

In addition to providing support
and assistance to community
organizations for Drug Awareness

Capilano Mall
North Van

Park Royal
West Van

BRIAN BIRD

Week, ADP provides a variety of
ongoing prevention programs and
services available to individuals
throughout the province. Several
of these programs are directed to
youth and are designed to help
them make a difference in their
lives, These programs include:

he School-based Prevention Pro-
ect.

This is a pilot project that was
implemented in some B.C. sec-
ondary schools last year. Current-
ly, 38 prevention workers are
working within the schools to co-
ordinate school prevention issues
and to provide early identifica-_
tion, intervention and referral for
students with drug problems.
® Secondary School Grants Pro--
gram. 7

This program provides funding
up to $2,000 to secondary schools‘
for drug abuse prevention activi-. -
ties that are. planned and: im-:.
plemented by students. Last year,”
175 schools received $275,000, and...
this year 500 schools are eligible ~~
to apply. - :
@ It's Cool To Be Yourself.

This is a video contest for. stu-
dents iu Grades 8 to 12. Students .
use video to depict their under- -
standing of healthy lifestyles and -
what being cool means to them:
The deadline for entries is April
1993. a

For information on any of these
school programs, contact Jon
Contorines at 660-6536. a

BENSON JARZYNA
Lynn Valley
North Van