A Peer2Peer drug awareness and education program is taking off on the Coast and it has gained enough interest and support to continue for at least three more years.
Peer2Peer is a leadership program where selected high school students spend a day in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver to see the effects of addiction first hand.
Those students are then challenged to take what they've learned and pass it on to younger students in their hometowns in an effort to educate them about drug use and ultimately help stop addiction before it starts.
The program, run through Odd Squad Productions Society, is said to be more successful than traditional drug awareness programs because kids seem more likely to listen to their peers.
Odd Squad Productions Society is a non-profit group made up of mainly retired and active police officers who have a mission to "educate the public about the devastating effects that high-risk behaviour has on members of our community."
In 2012 Elphinstone Secondary School student Charlene Smith started a crime prevention project in Coast schools through Odd Squad, but when she graduated, no one stepped up to continue her effort, which saw Odd Squad come into schools to talk to parents and kids.
This year, Charlene's brother Trevor has taken up the torch through the Peer2Peer program and on May 25 he saw selected students take part in their first visit to the Downtown Eastside with Odd Squad.
Students in grades 9 to 12 from Pender Harbour, Sechelt, Roberts Creek, Gibsons and Burnaby attended the day, which Trevor described as "awesome."
"The Sunshine Coast high school kids are eager to share what they learned and are already arranging Peer2Peer drug awareness presentations at Sunshine Coast elementary schools," he said, noting the presentations are only given to Grade 7 students on the Coast. "That's so that they have more tools and ideas about how to make the right decisions when they enter high school."
Trevor said students are planning Peer2Peer presentations shortly after school gets back in session in September or October and he's also taking names for the next group of teens who want to experience the Downtown Eastside with Odd Squad.
Trevor has committed to heading up the Peer2Peer program locally for another year and then Grade 9 Elphinstone student Christopher Norman has agreed to take it over for the following two years.
"I am excited that this program is going to continue until at least 2016," Trevor said.
To find out more or to get involved, you can email Trevor at [email protected].
The Peer2Peer program is funded through Odd Squad, which relies solely on donations to continue its work. Find out more at http://oddsquad.com.
