Provincial funding boosts substance abuse programs
Copyright 2006 Abbotsford News
Oct 24 2006

Two local Abbotsford organizations have been awarded Addictions Prevention Grants from Fraser Health to develop and implement programs aimed at reducing substance abuse in children and youth, announced MLAs Mike de Jong and John van Dongen.

“The dangers and consequences of drugs cannot be stressed enough and any initiative to reduce their use is welcomed,” said de Jong, MLA for Abbotsford-Mt.Lehman.

“Children and youth are very susceptible to drugs and it is important to educate them at a young age about the harm and destruction caused by substance abuse.”

Abbotsford Community Services will receive $23,050 in funding to create support groups for children and youth aged nine to 12 affected by substance misuse. The groups will use conversation, games and creative activities to focus on topics such as anger management, problem solving and self-esteem.

The second grant, worth $19,000, will help the Impact Society document the journey, through interviews and footage, of youth who participate in the “Stand Up to Drugs” project. Put on by the Pacific Community Resources Society, “Stand Up to Drugs” teaches youth up to 24 years of age to take control of addictions by turning their problems into comedy.

“Despite the warnings, many youth still fall between the cracks and are caught up in the sad world of substance abuse,” said van Dongen, MLA for Abbotsford-Clayburn.

“As a society, we have a responsibility to help young people whose lives have been impacted by drugs and alcohol. By using community-based solutions, we can help local youth confront and defeat problems resulting from substance abuse.”

This one-time funding is part of an initiative that will see 23 organizations in Fraser Health’s catchment split over $580,000 in funding towards the reduction of substance abuse by focusing on prevention, health promotion and education.

“Our goal was to bring together community stakeholders to identify and address specific substance misuse prevention and health promotion needs of the young people in their community,” said Lois Dixon, Fraser Health’s Executive Director of Mental Health and Addictions.

“And I am very pleased with the thought and creativity that agencies put into their proposals.”