(Brockville) – Meghan Salter, a grade 5 student from Commonwealth Public School learned a very important lesson yesterday while participating in Racing Against Drugs at the Brockville Memorial Centre, a three-day drug and alcohol awareness event for local students in grades 4 and 5.

“I’ve learned that drinking is bad while driving,” she said. “I really like this event because it’s fun and you get to learn at the same time.”

Racing Against Drugs, organized by the Racing Against Drugs Community Coalition for Leeds, Grenville & Lanark, has offered 1,100 students from 20 Leeds and Grenville schools to participate in the event that includes 23 seven-minute “pit-stops” put together by police, fire, ambulance, public health, addictions agencies and community partners. Each pit-stop includes a fun, interactive activity that promotes positive decision-making and emphasizes the negative impacts of drug and alcohol abuse. Some activity examples include “Tobacco Tic Tac Toe,” “Impaired Basketball,” and “Gamble Scramble.”

Julie Ingleby, a public health nurse with the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit and co-chair of the coordinating committee said the initial concept for Racing Against Drugs was developed by the London RCMP, the Ford Motor Company and the former London Board of Education in 1994.

“There’s a zero tolerance policy for car racing, but it’s an exciting topic for children,” said Ingleby. “It’s perfect timing to offer Racing Against Drugs to students of this age. It offers a prevention message.” 

In its tenth year in the region, Racing Against Drugs alternates between Brockville and Smiths Falls each year to broaden its availability to students. Ingleby added that prior to the event the Health Unit sends Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) curriculum support materials to teachers so they can introduce drug and alcohol awareness in the classroom.

“These materials allow students to get familiar with the topics beforehand,” said Ingleby.

Jo-Anne Fletcher, a grade 3/4 teacher at Commonwealth Public School said she feels Racing Against Drugs is a great learning opportunity for students.

“Children of this age are very impressionable and are subject to peer pressure,” she said. “This event allows students to realize there are many good choices to be made.”

Karen Brown, a parent volunteer from Commonwealth agreed.

“I think this event is fantastic for promoting awareness,” she said. “The more awareness students have the better. I’ve only been to a few pit-stops so far and I’ve learned about things that I didn’t know before. This day is so helpful.”

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For more information, please call:

Julie Ingleby

Public Health Nurse

Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit

613-345-5685