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Like many British Colum-
bians you may be concerned
about the problems alcohol and
other drugs cause: to individ-:
uals, families, and communities.
Some of us are taking action to
solve these problems. Count
yourself in. Be part of the solu-
tion.

AS A PARENT

I CAN plan not: to drink

alcohol or take any drugs that

would harm my baby when I am
pregnant.

I CAN establish family rules
with my children about alcohol
and other drug use and the con-
sequences of breaking the rules.

I CAN talk to my children
about alcohol and drugs and
listen to what they have to say
based on their experiences and
television viewing.

I CAN make time to listen to
my children’s problems, take
their concerns seriously, and not
be too quick to give advice,

I CAN help my children feel
confident and well-loved by giv-
ing them lots of praise, helping
them set realistic goals and not
comparing them to others.

I CAN practice with my

. children how to say ‘‘no” and

how to handle difficult situa-
tions without losing friends.

I CAN give my children and
their friends a drug-free place to
get together to: listen to their
music, talk, play games, make
pizza, and watch videos.

I CAN make a pact with my
teenage children in which they
agree never to drive with an im-
paired driver and I can promise
to pick them up anytime, no
questions asked. .

I CAN keep emergency taxi
money in the cupboard at home
for any family member who
needs a safe ride home.

AS A YOUNG

_ PERSON

I CAN read “Straight Facts”,
“Stay Real” and other up-to-
date information, available
from Alcohol and Drug Pro-
grams, to find out more about
alcohol and other drugs.

I CAN find out if there is a
school peer counsellor program
at our school and get involved.

I CAN contact the Communi-
ty Program Assistant for ICBC
through my local claim centre to
find out how to organize a Traf-
fic Safety/CounterAttack group
at my school.

I CAN seek out friends who
want to stay healthy and have
fun without using alcohol or
other drugs.

I CAN improve the way I deal
with family conflicts, stress, and
school problems by: talking
things over with a friend or

family member, or asking my ~

school counsellor for help.

I CAN make a pact with
myself not to drink -while under
age and I can share this pact
with a friend.

I CAN get involved with DRY
Grad and similar events that
promote healthy lifestyles in my
school and community.

I CAN choose to live a
healthy, drug-free life even if
family and friends don’t live
that way.

» WITH FAMILY
AND FRIENDS

1 CAN celebrate or sym-
pathize with family and friends
without drinking.

I CAN find a friend or family
member to talk to about my
problems or concerns, and listen
to their concerns when they need
an ear.

I CAN stop covering up for
family and friends who behave
badly when they drink and let
them be responsible for their
own behavior.

I CAN suggest at the start of a
social evening that the group
choose a designated driver who

will not drink alcohol during the

evening.

I CAN take my turn being the
designated driver.

I CAN change my own
lifestyle even if. 1 can't change
anyone else’s.

INMY |
HOME LIFE

I CAN make it a house prac-
tice not to serve alcohol to
minors or impaired guests.

I CAN have non-alcoholic
drinks available to offer house
guests. .

I CAN read the label before
buying or using medication.

I CAN consult a doctor if I
feel the need to take medication

on an ongoing basis or to rely on:

over-the-counter drugs for
ongoing medical problems.

I CAN keep medicine safely
out of reach of children in a
locked cabinet or another inac-
cessible place,

: This page is s supported by:

Dr. Barrie Phillips

E a recognition of Drug & Alcoho| Awareness Week

IN MY
COMMUNITY

I CAN suggest tha? our cligb
or committee or school invite a
guest speaker to talk about the
consequences of alcohol abuse.

I CAN suggest that the sports
or service club I belong to spon-
sor alcohol-free functions for
young people.

I CAN enjoy the outdoors
without drinking when involved
in activities such as boating,
swimming or hunting. -

I CAN phone the TRYLINE
(1-800-663-1441} to find out if
there is a task force on substance
abuse in my community and
how I can get involved,

I CAN ask my librarian to
stock up-to-date information on
alcohol and other drug abuse,
substance abuse prevention, and
personal development.

I CAN patronize restaurants
and bars that have a “designated
driver’? program,

I CAN support local
businesses that give financial or
other assistance to community
prevention activities.

I CAN talk to the ‘store

manager if I discover that

children are using solvents, or
Other products they purchase
from the store, as drugs.

I CAN telephone the police or
RCMP if I discover under age
drinking or the use of phony
ID’s by minors.

I CAN call ‘the police or
RCMP if I know where illegal
drugs are manufactured, grown
or distributed.

I CAN telephone or write to

_. Wednesday, November 7, 1990 —A Supplement to the e Terrace Review 5.

my local council, MLA, or MP
to voice my concern about
alcohol and other drug prob-

“tems, and give support. for

prevention programs.

I CAN voice my concerns at
council meetings or write to the
newspaper if excessive drinking
takes place at community
events.

I CAN support the annual
CountéfAttack campaigns to
reduce drinking and driving in
B.C

I CAN support drug
awareness activities in my com-
munity by putting up posters at
school or work, volunteering my
time, or attending special drug
awareness events.

IF I DRINK

i CAN take time to think
about my drinking by asking
myself: why, where, when, and

‘with whom do I drink.

I CAN choose to not drink
alcohol at least three days a
week and limit my drinks on the
other days to one or two. |

I CAN cut down my drinking
by drinking slower, alternating
alcoholic drinks with non-
alcohol drinks, and drinking
fewer drinks during the evening.

I CAN practice saying ‘‘no
thanks’’ confidently and stick-
ing to it when I have decided not
to drink.

The Responsibility is Yours.

A Family Contract — a commitment for life!

Learning how to com-
municate with others is a dif-
ficult skill to attain. A lack of
this skill, however, is a poor ex-
cuse after you have lost someone
you love. It can, in fact, lead to
-a strong sense of guilt. A Family
Contract, though, can heip fill
the gap and might even become
the first step in learning to talk

_to others in a meaningful way.
A Family Contract requires |

that you phone home for a ride
if you have consumed any
alcohol or taken any drugs.
Don't drive, And don’t accept a
ride from a friend who may also
have consumed alcoho! or taken
drugs. The contract insures that
you will have a safe, ‘‘no ques-
tions asked”’ ride home. In this
way, the Family Contract saves
lives.

_ A Family Contract also offers
the key to effective communica-
tion. It requires that the incident
be discussed but not in the heat
of the moment. Not until
everyone has cooled off and is
capable of clacussing the situa-

tion in a calm, rational way.

In other words, while you are
being given a ride home, there
will be no lectures, arguing,
shouting or accusing stares. At

some point in the future, though

(the next morning might be ap-
propriate), you and the family
member who offered the ride

will sit down and quietly talk

about what happened in a con-
structive way. -

' Read the contract carefully.
Make sure everyone understands

it. And then sign it with a prom- -

ise that you will always adhere to
its simple rules, And remember,
the contract applies equally to
everyone who signs it; parents,
children, brothers, and sisters.

- And an added note. A Family
Contract can include more than
just the members of one family.
It could be signed by a group of
friends who have simply decided
that it is foolish to play life-
threatening games with their
lives.

This page is supported by:

Terrace Health Care Society

in recognition of Drug & Alcohol Awareness Week

A Family Contract

‘Woe, the undersigned, do heteby agree to the provisions

a) If we have been drinking alcoholic beverages
or have ingested any mind-altering digs and we
are in a situation where we might have to drive
or be driven by a perion who has been drinking
oc ingesting deups, we will-not drive or sccept
a tide,

b) If we have been drinking alcoholic beverages
or ingested mind-altering deugs, we may contact
any of the other persons who have signed this
contract at any time of the day or night.

c) We agres that if called and we have not been

drinking alcabolic beverages or ingesting mind-
sitering drugs, that we will provide safe
ireneportation home from any Place at any hour

for the porsoa who has called.

d) Furthermore, this contract of agreemont
Jncludes the following promises: At the time of
azalstance;

*No questions are to be asked

*No lectures are to be given

*A cheerful, supportive attitude is to be shown
by the driver

Ge. no "looks")

©) At a future time, the incident will be
discussed by all the participants and, at such
time, will be approsched in a positive, non-

piece

SS ated