|
Health and Community Services November 16, 2007 Minister Kicks Off New Campaign for Addictions Prevention
With continued focus on addictions prevention, the Provincial Government today unveiled its new Get Up On It campaign with a reminder to parents of the important role they play in protecting their children against potential substance use and gambling problems. The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Health and Community Services, was joined by addictions counsellors in the Conception Bay South addictions treatment office to officially launch the annual Get Up On It campaign in preparation for Addictions Awareness Week which begins November 18. "Research indicates that parental behaviours around substance use and gambling, as well as parental involvement in children�s lives, can have a substantial influence on the choices adolescents make," said Minister Wiseman. "While this is just one of the factors that play a role in the prevention of addictions, it is an important message to communicate. With this new advertising campaign, we are highlighting the valuable and critical role that parents play in influencing their children�s choices." Get Up On It, the annual provincial Addictions Awareness Week campaign, was introduced in 2005 to educate youth on the effects of drugs, alcohol and problem gambling and to encourage them to follow their dreams. Each year, the campaign takes on a new focus for the prevention of adolescent substance use and gambling problems, while still maintaining the central theme for youth. This year�s focus is on the important role that parents play in helping to prevent such problems in their children. "Parents are very influential people in a teenager�s life," said Minister Wiseman. "We know that being a parent of a teenager can often be challenging, and this campaign serves to offer encouragement for parents to stay connected with their teenagers and break down the communication barriers." The new advertising campaign will feature print and radio ads as well as a photo contest where families can enter to win a family night prize by submitting a photo demonstrating a fun family activity. Twelve entries will be selected to appear in 2008 Get Up On It calendars. All 12 families with winning entries will receive a Get Up On It Family Fun Pack, full of games, movies and snacks � everything needed for a great family night together. Entries can be submitted to any of 26 Addictions Services Offices throughout the province or by e-mail to reneecryan@gov.nl.ca . Deadline for receipt of entries is 4:00 p.m. on November 30, 2007. Further details on the contest can be found at getuponit.ca, which also has a new component for parents and guardians with information about the signs to look for with respect to substance use and gambling problems. The website also offers helpful tips on how to communicate with teenagers and prevent situations where the opportunity for substance abuse or gambling may be present.
Addictions Awareness Week is held from November 18-24.
Communities across the province will hold activities to promote the new
campaign and raise awareness of the importance of preventing substance
use and gambling problems. Minister Wiseman added, "Our government has seen the
negative impacts that addictions have on individuals and families and we
are committed to investing in both prevention measures, as demonstrated
with this new campaign, and treatment for persons struggling with
addictions, including youth." Over the past four years, the Provincial Government
has increased funding for mental health and addictions by $11.9 million,
resulting in enhanced prevention strategies and treatment programs for
addictions. - 30 - Media contact: Glenda Power BACKGROUNDER Highlights of Provincial Addictions
Services Enhancements The launch of public awareness campaigns to target
addictions including Get Up on It, an annual campaign educating
youth about the risks associated with gambling and substance abuse,
and a television advertising campaign aimed at educating the public
about the risks associated with problem gambling, particularly
related to VLT use; The creation of an adolescent day treatment
program; The addition of 34 new positions in addictions
services, including addictions counsellors, prevention coordinators,
and nurses; Investment for the construction of a new facility
for the Humberwood Provincial Addictions Treatment Centre in Corner
Brook, which offers complete rehabilitative services to adult
residents of the province requiring in-patient treatment; The establishment of a methadone maintenance
program to treat clients suffering from opiate addictions; The enhancement of detox services at the Recovery
Centre in Pleasantville to include a medical component; Funding for the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and
Labrador (ACNL) for the SWAP (Safe Works Access Program) needle
exchange program, ACNL nursing clinic services and the Reaching
Injection Drug Users project; Support for Street Reach, a one-of-a-kind outreach
service which targets at-risk youth and is sponsored by the
Community Youth Network, in partnership with numerous community
agencies; Funding for Recovering Addicts Fellowship Team
(RAFT), a grassroots addictions organization; Funding to complete the Atlantic Student Drug Use
Survey; Funding for the Health, Education and Enforcement
in Partnership (HEP) project � a project that involves co-ordination
of health, education, and enforcement personnel throughout the
province to support the development of stronger partnerships to
address addiction issues; Training for primary care physicians and other
providers to screen and identify problem gambling; Competency-based training for provincial
addictions counsellors; Completion of a provincial gambling prevalence
study; and, Funding for gambling-related research. 2007 11 16
2:30 p.m. |
|
|
|
All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server. Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement |
