November 18, 1997
(Health)

The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I rise today to ask Honourable Members to join me in acknowledging November 16 - 22 as Drug Awareness Week in Newfoundland and Labrador.

This year's theme, "DISCOVER THE MAGIC! Be Drug Free", targets the youth of our province by raising awareness about the use and misuse of alcohol, smoking, prescription drugs, and addictive behaviours through the School Health Curriculum. This is a most appropriate theme, as it is based on Magician Gary Summers' innovative Magic Show concept which teaches children how to make the right choices with respect to drug use and misuse. The activities taking place in many communities throughout the province this week will serve as the launch of the Magic Show program province-wide.

In recent years, the use of contraband products, the abuse of prescription drugs, and addictions amongst youth has received increased attention in our province. In 1996, the Addictions Services Division of the Department of Health administered the Newfoundland and Labrador Student Drug Use Survey (SDUS) to students in grades 7, 9, 10, and 12. The results of this survey indicated a substantial number of young people are consuming alcohol, using tobacco products, and experimenting with stimulants physicians did not prescribe for them.

One of the recommendations arising from the 1996 Survey was the need to develop additional drug prevention programs for students. As a result, a well-know magician, Mr. Gary Summers, began working with the department's Addictions Services Division to create an innovative and unique idea for teaching children the hazards of substance abuse through the use of magic.

In conjunction with representatives from the Drug Awareness Sections of the RNC and RCMP and the Departments of Health and Education, Mr. Summers developed a Magic Show based on the objectives outlined in the School Health Curriculum. The show focuses on alcohol, smoking, prescription drug use and misuse and helps youth make the right decisions.

Honourable Members may wish to note that Drug Awareness Week is a national event organized to raise awareness about alcohol, other drugs, and gambling issues. The 1997 Provincial Committee is a cooperative effort which is largely community-based, and is composed of a number of dedicated individuals from police and community groups, as well as government, who have formed a partnership to raise public awareness surrounding these issues.

They include representatives from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Department of Health's Addictions Services and Health Promotion Divisions, Community Health Regions, Allied Youth, Health Canada, and the Department of Education.

I am pleased to say that Mr. Summers' Magic Show Concept is today a reality. The program was launched earlier this morning at RNC Headquarters and will be available to school children in grades Kindergarten to 8 across the province. I was fortunate to attend the ceremony, along with representatives of the RNC, Robinson Blackmore, and students from Brother Rice High School, as the RNC introduced their new poster designed to target youth in our province. Some of the representatives involved in the campaign are seated in the public gallery this afternoon: RNC Inspector Connie Snow, Sgts. Paula Buckle and Sean Ryan, the Director of the Addictions Services Division of the Department of Health, Ms. Bev Clarke, and two youth representatives from Brother Rice High School, Jeneane Cannizzaro and David Tipton.

I would like to thank Mr. Summers and representatives of all the community groups and agencies involved in developing the Magic Show Program, as well as the organizers of the activities and events taking place this week.

I am pleased to present each Honourable Member with a Drug Awareness Week Kit. The Department of Health has distributed 6,000 of these kits to school children, community groups and businesses throughout the province in preparation for the campaign.

I ask all Members of the House that we do our part and join the people of our province in marking November 16 to 22 as Drug Awareness Week in Newfoundland and Labrador.