Government Of Canada Helps Keep Youth In School Through Illicit Drug Use Education

Dr. Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament for Oshawa and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, announced today the Government of Canada's support for a project that will help discourage young people from taking illicit drugs. Dr. Carrie made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health.



"The Government of Canada has introduced many measures to prevent the use of illicit drugs in our schools," said Minister Aglukkaq. "This project will help educate youth about the negative consequences of taking drugs."


This project aims to improve the decision-making skills of suspended and expelled students in dealing with drug-related issues, which in turn, will assist them in re-entering the mainstream educational system. The project will be managed by the Trinity Theatre Toronto and its partners: the Safe School Office of the Toronto District School Board and Parent Actions on Drugs.


"Raising awareness about substance abuse will help better equip youth to make informed decisions about their health," said Mr. Carrie. "I look forward to seeing the benefits of the Making Connections: A Social Development Approach to Drug Abuse and Prevention for Suspended and Expelled Students projectinthe months and years ahead."


Initiatives such as this one are another step in implementing the Government of Canada's National Anti-Drug Strategy, announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in October 2007.


"Health Canada's support makes it possible for us to intensify our social/emotional development programming for suspended and expelled students with the addition of health promotion. Increasing young people's resilience and capacity to make informed choices in their lives around substance use and abuse issues is the ultimate goal of this project and our peer leadership work," said Alan Richardson, Co-Director of Trinity Theatre.


Trinity Theatre Toronto will receive $305,170 in financial support for this important project from the federal Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund, which provides financial support for health promotion and prevention projects at the national, provincial and local levels. It addresses a wide range of illicit drug use issues, especially among vulnerable populations such as youth.


Please visit the National Anti-Drug Strategy website for more information.

Source
Health Canada