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We wish to introduce Parent Action on Drugs. Formerly Parents Against Drugs, our new name reflects PAD's mandate to help parents and other make informed choices about substance abuse issues that affect their children. As it has for the past 20 years, PAD continues to be the primary group in Canada to reach out to parents first, with the tools to prevent the abuse of alcohol and other drugs among teens.
PARTIES, POT AND PRESSURE:
THREE NEW RESOURCES HELP PARENTS BRING IN THE NEW YEAR
Monday, January 12, 2004, Toronto: Parent Action on Drugs has released three new resources, just in time for the New Year. "This is a time of changing attitudes about alcohol and other drug use. We need to really be aware of the issues," says Diane Buhler, PAD's Executive Director. "Our job as parents is to help our kids understand and challenge what they see and hear and ultimately think for themselves."
Watching Out - A 2004 Calendar for a media friendly home.
Watch out with your kids because things aren't always what they seem. That's the theme of this large, colourful 2004 calendar aimed at parents and pre-teens. Twelve visual puzzles encourage kids to question what they see on television, on the Internet and in video games. Facts and tips are given on topics such as violence, stereotyping, drug use and the influence of the media. Individual copies are free from PAD.
POT Talk - A Quick Reference on Policies, Opinions and Truths about Marijuana Legislation
The current controversy over the legalization and/or de-criminalization of marijuana has parents wondering how to approach discussing marijuana use with their teens. POT Talk provides current information to parents and helps them make sense of the issue. Available free.
Parents and Teen Partying Kit:
The Ontario Student Drug Use Survey of November, 2003 (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) reports that alcohol is still the number one drug of choice by teens. Furthermore, more than 40% of Grade 11 students in Ontario report drinking in order to become drunk in the four weeks prior to the study. The Parents and Teen Partying Kit includes For the Record, the reality video of a high school grad party, and a discussion guide for parents and parent group facilitators, with quick facts on alcohol and gender differences, alcohol poisoning and legal responsibility.
Regularly sold at thirty-five dollars, it is available at a discounted price of ten dollars for parents.
Parent Action on Drugs has just celebrated twenty years of supporting parent-teen dialogue. Their mission is to address issues of substance use among youth through outreach, prevention, education and parent support. PAD enhances the capacity of parents, youth and communities to promote an environment that encourages youth to make informed choices.
NEW
We are also attaching the following items in PDF format to help you bring attention to other important resources for parents.
- A press release about a new Parent Action Pack offered free to parents. It includes brochures, fact sheets and a new game "I Say… You Say", for parents and teens to play together.
- Print PSAs:
- "Hey, Mom!" can be used any time during the school year.
- "I Say…You Say" talks about the new game.
- "Parent Action on Drugs" is a generic ad offering the free pack and other help.
- "Parents, Kids and Drugs" is a small filler ad offering the free pack.
- " Three short articles entitles "Top Three Drug Choices for Students"; "Teen Power Drinking on the Rise"; and "New Game Helps Parents Talk to Kids about Drugs".
If there is anything further you require, please contact:
Diane Buhler, Executive Director
(416) 395-4970 (phone)
(416) 395-4972 (fax)
pad@parentactionondrugs.org
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Parent Action on Drugs - Annual General Meeting
The meeting was held on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at the North York Memorial Community Hall
Acknowledgements
Gail Diamond, Retiring Peer Education Facilitator
Nigel Baillie, Director 1987-2007 (memorial)
the agenda included the passing of the revised PAD By-Law No. 1
To download a pdf file of PAD By-Law No. 1 click here
To download a pdf file of the invitation to the Annual General Meeting click here
PAD & Jay Prychidny’s “For the Record” video makes the news
Jay Prychidny had a first hand experience with the dangers of binge drinking at a high school graduation party over five years ago. Although he was not the one in need of medical attention he watched as paramedics wheeled a young girl out of the house on a gurney. Parent Action on Drugs (PAD) approached Jay and asked him to turn his story into a 20 minute video re-enactment. PAD uses the video as a tool to warn parents and youth about the possible consequences of binge drinking. Excessive drinking among youths continues to be a concern and many youth do not seem to understand the often-deadly affects.
Andrea Gordon wrote an article about binge drinking entitled “Don’t Drink and Die,” that was featured in the Toronto Star (June 24, 2005). Jay Prychidny’s story was mentioned along with data about youth binge drinking and it’s hazardous affects. The article quoted many physicians and mental health workers as well as Diane Buhler of Parent Action on Drugs. The article warns parents not only to be worried about impaired driving but also to remember the numerous other health problems excessive drinking can cause.
For an abstract and a link to the article visit www.thestar.com
For the entire article click here:
PAD Presents … Issues of Substance 2005
We are proud to report that Parent Action on Drugs was one of very few community organizations to be selected to present at the prestigious first National Conference, hosted by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. “Issues of Substance” was from November 13 to 16 in Markham, Ontario and its theme was Innovation and Action.
Pat Sanagan, PAD’s Health Promotion and Education Consultant, was part of an expert panel for Youth and Young Adults: Understanding and Influencing their Choices in Substance Use and Risk Behaviours. She was joined by panellists from the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission and the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba. And it was one of the six (out of 36 workshops) to have simultaneous translation available!
For information on the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, visit http://www.ccsa.ca
M’Chigeeng Healthy Lifestyles Project
PAD staff Joanne Brown and Diane Buhler travelled to Manitoulin Island to provide two workshops sponsored by the M’Chigeeng Healthy Lifestyles Project (a FOCUS Community Project). Working with Daughness Migwans, the Healthy Lifestyles Project Worker, we planned the agendas and presentations for an afternoon professional development session on “Strategies for Building Resiliency and Reducing the Risk of Substance Use Problems” and an evening session for parents on “Reducing the Risk of Substance Use Problems among Teens”.
The professional session included youth workers, addiction and mental health counsellors, and community support workers from four communities:
Sheshegwaning, Aundech Omni Kaning, Wikwemikong, Sheguiandah as well as the sponsoring M’Chigeeng community.
It was a valuable opportunity for shared learning and new partnerships.
Now available: The Summary Report and Resource Kit
This Package contains information pertaining to the conference organization, implementation and evaluation, including:
- Flyers and conference applications
- Information packages given to the youth participants
- The detailed agenda and media release
- Biographies about each of the guest speakers
- Team work exercises
- Slide show print outs
- The Marketing to Youth survey and results
- The ads and key concepts created and drawn out by the participants
- The transcript for the play written to use theatre to deliver messages
- The zine group’s magazine
- The conference evaluation, results and lessons learned
- A CD-ROM includes: the power point presentations given David Jernigan PhD, Nancy Miller, Mike Farrel and Tim Keenlyside
- A DVD of the conference documenting the whole process including a showcase of the icebreakers, presentations from the guest speakers, and the creative process involved in developing the key messages. The DVD also features interviews with the youth delegates expressing their thoughts and opinions.
For a copy (there is a recovery cost), or for more information please email us at pad@parentactionondrugs.org
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