The first Run For Recovery, hosted in partnership by the Parents Against Illicit Narcotics and the Borderland Bicycle club to promote the awareness of youth substance abuse issues and the need for youth treatment services, was a great success on Sunday.

"We're really pleased with the turnout," says Jeff Tilbury, lead organizer. "We had 25 participants, with runners doing a 7 km loop and hikers a 3.5 km loop around the Hopkins Bay Multi-Use Trail behind the great Bear. It was nippy and a little breezy but everyone had fun."

By Heather Latter

Students across the district will hear some very important messages as two Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) presentations will be visiting local schools next week.
Those in Grades 1-6 will view “The MADD Scientist and the Quest for Power” while Grades 7-12 will be presented with “Friday Night.”
Hugh Dennis, co-ordinator of the Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team, is thrilled to be able to bring these assemblies to the area and feels they will help get the message out there—especially to the older students.

The government recently announced that all liquor licensees and their managers, servers
and security staff will require Smart Serve training and certification by January 1, 2008.
Any new staff hired closer to the January 1st deadline and afterward will have 60 days from their date of hire to get their Smart Serve.

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.

People Against Illicit Narcotics (PAIN) have collected over 1,300 signatures on a petition calling for addiction treatment facilities for youth in the Rainy River District. Now, they will take their appeal to politicians - both the sitting Liberal government, and the candidates in the upcoming election.

“There is a great lack of services - absolutely no resources out there - and parents don’t know where to turn,” said Sharon Strachan, who asked Council Monday for a letter supporting the call. (Council agreed to provide the letter.)

By Heather Latter
Fort Frances Times Ltd.

FORT FRANCES—Members of Parents Against Illicit Narcotics (PAIN) have collected the petitions which recently were circulated across Rainy River District requesting the establishment of youth addiction services and increased drug enforcement in the area.
And with 1,632 signatures, the group is thrilled with the support from district residents.

Rainy River Record

Parents Against Illicit Narcotics (PAIN) have received overwhelming support from the district to approach the Ontario government in search of youth addiction services in the Rainy River District.
In July PAIN circulated petitions across the region and last week collected and sent the 1,632 signatures to government representatives.

Parents Against Illicit Narcotics (PAIN) and the Borderland Bicycle Club are partnering to host the Run for Recovery 7km Trail Run or 3.5 Hike for Health at Reef Point/Hopkins Bay Multi-use trail System. The idea of the event was to find an activity to promote the interests of both groups. For the Bike Club it is an opportunity to showcase the local trail system at Reef Point that is used by the club for mountain biking.

By Heather Latter
Fort Frances Times Ltd.

To further their efforts to prevent tragedies in the area, the Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team, and program co-ordinator Hugh Dennis, have a new project for the fall.
They will be focusing on distributing the pamphlet “Families Rule,” a family policy aimed to open dialogue between parents and children about drugs and alcohol.
“We need to get the message out there and emphasize positive change,” stressed Dennis, who discovered the pamphlet had been used in Renfrew County and could be applied locally.

By Amanda Roy
Fort Frances Times Ltd.

Tara Tovey is a recovering drug addict, who has been sharing her story with other teens and the local community in an effort to help diminish the rising illicit narcotic and prescription drug use in Rainy River District.
This 18-year-old has stepped up and said “no” to the drugs, “no” to her constant, grueling cravings, “no” to her desires to party, and “no” to her once biggest weakness, OxyContin pills.