The West Shore RCMP is looking for motivated volunteers to help keep young people on the right track and away from substance abuse.

The detachment is rolling out its Community Prevention Education Continuum program (CPEC), which involves community members talking to high school students about making wise choices.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e looking for great people willing to donate a bit of time,B次元官网网址� said RCMP Cpl. Scott Hilderley, the CPEC program co-ordinator. B次元官网网址淚f we get 50 people, weB次元官网网址檒l find 50 ways for people to help.B次元官网网址�

Hilderley stressed that almost anyone from any walk of life can help B次元官网网址揃次元官网网址� a banker could talk to kids about economics and budgeting, a fitness store owner could talk about the benefits of exercise and health. ItB次元官网网址檚 not about endlessly hammering on the anti-drug and alcohol message, he said, but focusing on healthy decision-making, which reduces risky behaviour among teens.

B次元官网网址淚n high school kids are presented with peer pressure. ItB次元官网网址檚 a struggle to resist,B次元官网网址� Hilderley said. B次元官网网址淏ut instead of focusing on what is negative, weB次元官网网址檙e focusing on what is positive. ItB次元官网网址檚 all geared to maximize the potential of of youth. ItB次元官网网址檚 about developing healthy communities.B次元官网网址�

The CPEC program is also meant as a continuation the long-running DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program offered to elementary students throughout the province. That consistent anti-drug messaging can become erratic when students enter middle and high school, Hilderley said.

RCMP rolled out CPEC in the East Kootenay in 2005, and saw a measurable decrease in drug and alcohol abuse among teens, according to surveys. West Shore detachment commander Insp. Mark Fisher, who worked in the area at the time, said the program helped develop better communication between officers and community organizations.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e seen it work elsewhere in the country,B次元官网网址� Fisher said. B次元官网网址淚n the Kootenays, it was a big help for the detachment to get engaged with all age groups.B次元官网网址�

Some youth might also respond better to anti-drug messaging delivered by people other than police officers. Segments of youth only interact with police in negative way, Hilderley noted, such as when a parent gets arrested.

B次元官网网址淜ids might not be able to connect with police, but they might connect with a hockey player or a business man,B次元官网网址� Fisher said.

CPEC is volunteer based and is not looking for monetary donations. People not comfortable with public speaking can also help with the program.

People interested in participating with the CPEC program or want to find out more can contact Hilderley at 250-380-6295 or scott.hilderley@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com