News Release                   For Immediate Release

November 8, 2004

“Speaker’s Corner” Coming to Local High Schools

This year during Drug Awareness Week students are being given a chance to verbally express their feelings and attitudes about issues relating to alcohol and other drugs and related risks.  The Substance Abuse Action Committee (SAAC) of Grey and Bruce is promoting positive peer-to-peer messages through the popular television show Speaker’s Corner.  

During the week of November 15-19, the Speaker’s Corner event will be hosted by five different local high schools, giving students a chance to have their say about alcohol and other drugs. 

These events will be held during lunch break, as scheduled below:

¨      Monday, Nov. 15 – Georgian Bay Secondary School, Meaford

¨      Tuesday, Nov. 16 – West Hill Secondary School, Owen Sound

¨      Wednesday, Nov. 17 – St. Mary’s High School, Owen Sound

¨      Thursday, Nov. 18 – O.S.C.V.I., Owen Sound

¨      Friday, Nov. 19 – Grey Highlands Secondary School, Flesherton

The New VR is providing the “Speaker’s Corner” equipment for taping the television show.  Students will pay $1.00 each to respond, on camera, to one of four statements about alcohol and other drugs.   These clips will also be screened and used to create a video, targeting younger grade school students with positive messages from their older peers. 

Proceeds from the Speaker’s Corner events will benefit SAAC and each participating high school’s OSAID (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) or student council. 

 

The Canadian Community Health Survey shows that the number of Grey-Bruce teen drinkers is significantly higher than the provincial average.  Findings from the most recent Ontario Student Drug Use Survey (2003) show that 16.5% of students reported smoking cannabis six times or more during the past year, and daily cannabis use has increased since 1987. 

“The Substance Abuse Action Committee sees this event as an effective way to reach youth who may be faced with making decisions about alcohol and other substance use and/or abuse,” says Marie Barclay, member of SAAC.  “We believe that the peer-to-peer approach will help participating high school students review their feelings about alcohol and other drug use.  The resulting video will help younger students make better, more informed choices.”

-30-

For more information:

Marie Barclay

FOCUS Project Coordinator

Member, Substance Abuse Action Committee

376-9420 ext. 281