Drug abuse among youths can be prevented with communication

Keeping communication open is a key way to prevent kids from using drugs, says a regional police commander.

Anishinabek Police Service North Region commander Rick Saarinen said educating parents on how to talk to their kids about drugs is a great way to prevent drug abuse among today’s youth.

"To encourage them not to make poor decisions," Saarinen said. "A lot of the problems can be prevented just through communication with their children."

That’s why APS and the RCMP teamed up to host a Kids ‘n’ Drugs program this week. The program, hosted at Fort William First Nation Community Centre, focuses on four ways to educate parents how to speak to their kids.

"It’s a program designed to teach parents how to speak to their children about the harmful effects of drugs and try and steer them away from the use of drugs," Saarinen said.

Program co-ordinator Cpl. Cheryle Hayden said through role modeling, communication skills, peer pressure discussions and drug education parents can help their children avoid the dangers of drugs.

Because the program is also about training the trainers, those participating can take the information they learned and teach it to other parents. Everyone from police officers to educators to child and youth workers were in attendance during the four-day workshop Hayden said.

"It’s everybody working together…to help create solutions," Hayden said. "It takes a variety in the community."

When it comes to kids and drugs, communication is key, she added.

"It’s pretty hard to solve (drug problems) if you’re not talking about them," Hayden said.