M. McKinnon

The Substance Abuse Prevention team is launching a new program, Families Rule!, to help families tackle substance abuse issues head on.

The program is modeled on the successful ‘commitment letter’ program, in which young people and parents sign an agreement allowing the young person to call home for a safe ride at any time.

At the heart of Families Rule! is a ten-part guide to creating a family policy around the use of alcohol, medication, drugs and tobacco, and around safe travel. The guide lists some potential policies a family could adopt, and urges families to apply the rules - and consequences - to all members. It is all set up in a short, straightforward pamphlet.

“It came out of a group in Renfrew County,” said team director Hugh Dennis. “We hope that it can at least open the door to discussion in the family. Give everyone a chance to do a bit of a reality check.”

Students here and across the district will get a pamphlet outlining the policy guides. The team is hoping to be able to distribute them with report cards, as well as at parent-teacher evenings, the November health fair in Atikokan, and through the Safe and Healthy Lifestyles committee here.

Abuse prevention ad: PAIN - People Against Illicit Narcotics - has presented its petition calling for the development of a substance abuse treatment facility for youth in the Rainy River District, to the government and all 8 candidates in the two district ridings. As well as the petition, signed by 1,632 residents, the politicians are getting endorsements of the proposal from Atikokan Council and the Fort Frances Tribal Area Chiefs.