Pre-teens learn the dangers of alcohol and drugs
The experts had no trouble harnessing the young audience’s attention. All they needed were some cold hard facts.
Drug dealers have been known to cut cocaine with nasty additives including crushed light bulbs and laundry detergent.
Mixing alcohol with energy drinks masks the affects of the alcohol, which can encourage someone to keep on drinking to the point of becoming dangerously inebriated.
Rail tracks are not a playground. You can’t always hear a train coming.
Smoking marijuana is not a benign activity for youngsters with developing brains. It can mute motivation, stunt growth and trigger schizophrenia.
Over the course of the last week, more than 500 Grade 6 students from schools in Dorval and Pointe-Claire gathered at the Sarto-Desnoyers Community Centre in Dorval for the 12th annual substance abuse prevention week. Wednesday was dedicated to English students.
The idea was to instil a measure of confidence through the sharing of important information. Next year is high school for these students. An overwhelming prospect for some. During the Wednesday-morning session, groups visited a series of kiosks, spending nine minutes at each stop. Subjects broached included bullying, cyberstalking, social-media addiction, drugs, gangs, alcohol, succumbing to peer pressure, fitness, energy-drink analysis and railway safety. Each presentation engaged the students with quizzes, physical activities or contests. Not a second was spared.
“It leaves an impression,” Const. Hélène Jubinville said of the knowledge-packed morning. “The idea is to give them tools they can use in high school.”
The event was spearheaded by Jubinville and Const. Liliana Bellucci from Montreal Police Station 5. Participating partners at Wednesday’s session were SPVM officers; the YMCA; CN Police; Urgences Santé; youth outreach organization AJOI; registered nurses; the addiction treatment centre Maison Jean Lapointe; the Lester B. Pearson School Board and the cities of Dorval and Pointe-Claire.
Dorval leisure and culture animator David Lebrasseur was on hand to supervise. Lebrasseur, who has worked with teens for almost a decade, said the information shared at the event lays the groundwork for youngsters as they begin navigating the complex teen years. The knowledge can help them distance themselves from difficult situations as well as guide them to make informed decisions.
“My Choices My Future is our slogan,” Lebrasseur said.
Each kiosk was staffed by volunteers who presented tightly focused presentations. One of the most popular stops on the circuit was the YMCA’s drunk-driving simulator. Students donned blurred goggles which recreated the marred vision of an impaired driver and then “drove” on simulators. Harsh results drove the point home.
“I thought it was going to be pretty easy,” 11-year-old Massimo Fortino said of his simulator experience. “But it was really tricky.”
So will the Dorval Elementary School student ever drink and drive? The answer was an emphatic “Never.”
Similar goggles were used during the CN Police, rail-safety presentation. Students slipped on the goggles and attempted to walk a straight line. The message was clear. Drinking affects balance. Wobbling in an inebriated state near a railway track or near a body of water can be deadly.
Over the years, Jubinville and Bellucci have crossed paths with young adults who still remember the Grade 6 field trip.
“They don’t remember much about elementary school, but they remember that day,” Bellucci said.
One of Wednesday’s observers was Rebecca Blanco, 28, a political attachée for Marquette-riding MNA François Ouimet. The riding office is a regular supporter of the event. She had memories of attending a similar event when she was 11 years old.
“I still remember learning about the affects of tobacco and drugs and energy drinks,” Blanco said. “It scared me enough to stop me from ever trying any of it.”