Kids and Drugs Program looks at the Whole Picture

Victim Services and RCMP join forces to bring new program to the Cold Lake Area

Kids and parents in the Cold Lake area will have more resources available to them to help deal with the risks associated with drugs and drug abuse, thanks to a new program, Kids and Drugs. The program is part of an Alberta grant, Alberta Drug Prevention Initiative and will not cost anything to the schools or youth groups that host the group. Dave Zimmerman, with the Cold Lake Chapter of Victim Services, says this program took years of research and development and is one of the most comprehensive programs he has seen.

“Today’s youth face many risks; including drug abuse,” explains Zimmerman. “Responding to these risks, before they become problems, can be difficult. One of the goals of this Cold Lake initiative on drug abuse is to help the public understand the causes of drug abuse and to prevent its onset.” The program recognizes that parents, guardians and other adult mentors have a significant influence on children’s attitudes and behaviours, so they include the community when presenting the program.

The first presentation will be October 25th at Elizabeth Metis Settlement. There will be a supper provided, as well as a five-part workshop for parents. “Information is a powerful ingredient in planning,” Zimmerman explains the more knowledge the community has the more power it is against drug abuse, “information helps develop a picture of what is actually going on; which is sometimes different to local perceptions. It is also useful in helping tell the story to gather support from the wider community.”

The three main objectives for the project:

1. To facilitate drug prevention presentations to the community of Cold Lake, Cold Lake First Nations, MD of Bonnyville (Ardmore), and Elizabeth Metis Settlement to parents and caregivers of youth and youth at risk.
2. To facilitate drug prevention presentations to schools in the City of Cold Lake, Cold Lake First Nations,  MD of Bonnyville (Ardmore), and Elizabeth Metis Settlement to students and teachers.
3. To provide educational material and resources to community partners for the purpose to continue the efforts started with this program.

The Kids and Drugs program is only available to the areas which the Cold Lake Victim Services and Cold Lake RCMP Detachment serve. For more information on the program call Dave Zimmerman at 780-594-3302. The first session is October 25th from 5:30-8:30 pm at Elizabeth Metis Settlement, check LCN’s main calendar for more sessions.