Province's youth get the message on drugs and violence

NLIS 4
September 7, 2001
(Education)

The following is being distributed at the request of the Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador:

Junior and senior high school students across the province will see one of Canada's most popular drug awareness programs thanks to the Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador (DFNL) and the School Milk Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.

At a news conference at Brother Rice Junior High School in St. John's today, DFNL and the School Milk Foundation presented Education Minister Judy Foote and Justice Minister Kelvin Parsons with 250 copies of the video Norm and Fred - Think about Drugs. The video speaks frankly to young people about drugs in language and terms they can easily relate to. Boyd Merrill developed Norm and Fred from a script written by his teenaged son Jason. More than 300,000 young people in Atlantic Canada, Western Canada and the United States have seen the presentation.

"Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador are proud of our association with Norm and Fred � Think about Drugs," said DFNL executive director Martin Hammond. "Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador and the School Milk Foundation's contribution will ensure every student in the province from grade seven to grade 12 will have a chance to hear Norm and Fred's powerful message."

"Boyd Merrill has done a fantastic job of bringing the truth about drugs to young people throughout Atlantic Canada - both through his live presentations and through the development of this video," said Minister Foote.

"With the help of community partners like the Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Newfoundland and Labrador School Milk Foundation, PharmaChoice pharmacies and Lions International, our province's young people have access to an excellent resource which can enhance programming in schools throughout the province."

Minister Parsons said: "I have been a strong supporter of Norm and Fred ever since Mr. Merrill made the first presentation in Port aux Basques. It gives me great pleasure to see how successful the program has become."

Boyd Merrill also presented the provincial ministers with copies of Promoting Peace and Preventing Violence, developed by Lions Quest Canada, part of the Lions International service organization. As Minister of Justice, I also want to thank Boyd and Lions International for enough copies of the Promoting Peace kits for every school board in the province. These excellent programs will hopefully supplement the school curriculum, helping the youth of Newfoundland and Labrador to develop as responsible adults."

Media contact:

          Martin Hammond, DFNL, (709) 364-6634

          Nora Daly, Department of Education, (709) 729-0048

          Edwina Bateman, Department of Justice, (709) 729-6985

2001 09 07                                          12:00 p.m.

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