National Addictions Awareness Week -- Nov. 18, 2013

National Addictions Awareness Week 2013

Dear Parent/Guardians,

Our class will be participating in the upcoming National Addictions Awareness Walk being held on Monday November 18, 2013 at 10 a.m.  In total, four Intermediate classes from Adam Robertson Elementary school will be participating in the event to help bring awareness to this important cause.  The walk will start at the Rec Centre and will end at the Lower Kootenay Band.  That said, the Grade 5 and 6 classes will only be walking from the Rec Centre to Centennial Park.

This initiative is under the direction of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.  The focus for this year’s initiative is targeted towards youth drug prevention.  Below is a brief explanation provided by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse:

Every November, CCSA and organizations across Canada mark National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW).

NAAW plays an important role in highlighting issues and solutions to help address alcohol- and drug-related harm. Substance abuse costs Canadian taxpayers more than $40 billion a year. It is a contributor to diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

In 2013, CCSA’s focus for NAAW will be on youth drug prevention. One of CCSA’s key priorities for action is children and youth - specifically, how do we prevent our young people from developing substance abuse issues? To help achieve this goal, CCSA focuses on providing research-based, evidence-informed tools to promote healthy living and help prevent Canadian youth - our country’s future - from experiencing the harms of substance abuse.

National Addictions Awareness Week is an opportunity to learn more about substance abuse and addiction, to talk about the complex problem of substance abuse and to bring forward solutions for change from all those touched by it. Please, join the dialogue to help create a healthier society, free of the harms of substance abuse!

For further information and links, please feel free to visit the website:

http://www.ccsa.ca/ENG/NEWSANDEVENTS/INFORMATION_SHARE/NAAWDAW/Pages/default.aspx

Included below is are the learning outcomes as outlined by the government of British Columbia as to what educators are responsible for teaching in his/her classrooms.  If at any time parents have any questions or concerns, please let the teacher know.

Grade 5:

·        analyse factors that contribute to the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (e.g., social influences, curiosity, feeling alienated or awkward, stress, media, dealing with emotions such as sadness and grief)

Grade 6:

·        demonstrate appropriate skills related to the prevention of the use of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs (e.g., assertiveness, refusal skills, avoidance, choosing healthy alternatives)

·        describe the potential consequences for themselves and others if they use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs (e.g., altered judgment and decision making, addiction, potential harm to fetus)

Grade 7:

·        Healthy living C1 - Analyse factors that influence personal health decisions

·        Healthy living C11 - Describe healthy alternatives to substance misuse

All parents are welcomed to join us in the walk!  As mentioned earlier, if parents have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Thanks,

Mr. Blick

ARES – Grade 5