Race Against Drugs Drives Home Substance Abuse Lessons

Tuesday, 10 May 2016 05:41

Students are getting to learn about drug and alcohol abuse up close and personal this week at Race Against Drugs

WOODSTOCK - Kids in Oxford County are learning about the effects of drugs and alcohol this week at Race Against Drugs.

While at RAD fifth and sixth graders are split up into smaller groups while they check out some of the booths set up by community partners. Constable Nikki VanLeeuwen with Woodstock Police says one of the stations shows kids how the K9 unit helps with drug searches.

"Striker is here and he is actually searching a drug wall that Constable Skillings built, so he is finding some drugs and educating on that."

VanLeeuwen adds the OPP also have a vehicle rollover simulator set up.

"We have the OPP rollover simulator - the kids absolutely love that. It actually shows what happens in a crash if people aren't wearing seatbelts or they're impaired by drugs or alcohol."

Here's a list of some of the some other stations set up:

Emergency Medical Services: Demonstration on what happens in drugs/alcohol puts you in the hospital.
Board of Health: Interactive game about the effects of drugs/alcohol.
Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre: Jail cell set up to show kids what it's like to be arrested and the conviction process.
London Health Sciences Trauma Centre: Demonstration on what happens if you get seriously injured in a crash or you overdose on drugs/alcohol.
Woodstock Fire Department: Teaching kids about fire safety and cooking while impaired.
CN Police: Teaching kids about rail safety.

Lisa Woods, Public Information Coordinator with the Woodstock Fire Department, says this is a real eye opening experience for the 1,314 kids expected to attend.

"They absolutely get the hands on experience and hopefully it deters people or makes them more aware of what's out there. Some of these kids have been exposed and some haven't so hopefully we're giving them a realistic idea of what they can expect and hopefully they can change their patterns and make better choices."

Race Against Drugs is organized by Woodstock Fire, Woodstock Police, and the Thames Valley District School Board.