Parents Given Real Tools for Drug Prevention

Kids & Drugs Community Sessions provide real-life information that can aid parents in drug prevention

Cold Lake Victim Services and the Cold Lake RCMP Detachment, along with Alberta Health Services (AHS) are presenting a series of information workshop for parents and community members. The sessions are design to help prevent and hinder drug use in tweens and teens, says Dave Zimmerman with Cold Lake Victim Services.

The first session, held in Elizabeth Metis Settlement, was well-attended and focused on various elements of what leads kids to drugs and how abuse happens. “We talk about the power of the parents. The parents are the role models, whether you want to admit it or not. There’s a role for parents; they’re not their kids friends. We talk about how you’re the role model, everyone makes mistakes, and things parents can do to influence their kids.”

“We talk about risk and preventive factors; as well as community resources, what’s available for the parents.” Zimmerman says he gives tips to parents on how to talk to their kids about tough subjects. “Talking about drugs and alcohol, opening up the discussion and responding in different ways. You can talk to your kids in an informal or formal way; we talk about how to do each.”

The next section focuses on helping your child make good decisions, “developing your child’s self-esteem, teaching your child to be independent.” Zimmerman says a lot of the parents who attend these sessions have children who are either coming of age, or are teenagers. “Helping your kids make good decisions and letting them know that you’ve made mistakes too.”

“The last section is what parents need to know about drugs,” Zimmerman explains they display, through a power point presentation, what drugs are out there and available to kids. “What the real medication of Fetanyl looks like, then what the street drug looks like,” so parents will have an idea of what to look out for, says Zimmerman. “We have a drug board with what different drugs look like.”

The sessions are part of the Cold Lake RCMP Detachment’s priorities for 2016-17, explains Zimmerman, “when the RCMP met with the Band and Council for Cold Lake First Nations last year, this is one of the programs that they had asked for.” The RCMP worked with Victim Services to secure grant funding to provide the program; which is designed by AHS. “Here’s the opportunity for the Nation to get this workshop.”

The Kids & Drugs Community information Session will be held next at the Dene Wellness Centre on Cold Lake First Nations, November 8th. The sessions are free and supper is provided. For more information or to RSVP contact Dave Zimmerman at 780-594-3302 ext 3.

The sessions have been getting a lot of attention from the surrounding communities, says Zimmerman. In fact, many communities, outside of the Cold Lake RCMP territory, have called requesting presentations. Unfortunately, the presentations are funded only for the Cold Lake territory. Zimmerman suggests contacting your local detachment or AHS for information on how you could bring a presentation to your community.