AMHERST – Local high school students learned through a PARTY the consequences of their decisions.
PARTY, or Prevention of Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth, was presented to Grade 10 students at Amherst Regional High School a week-and-a-half ago.
““The program helps students be aware that there are consequences for choices they make,” school nurse Michelle Richard said.
The program teaches students how alcohol, drugs, speed, fatigue and distractions such as cell phones, texting and eating can cause vehicle crashes.
“It’s referred to as crashes, not accidents because crashes are preventable, accidents are not,” Richard said.
The students were shown a DVD clip on simulated car crashes that shows the emergency room, ICU and rehabilitation units.
“The consequences are brought to the forefront with the video. It also shows the ripple effect on others, such as families, friends and peers.”
As co-chairpersons of the Students Against Destructive Decisions organization, Grade 11 students Jessica Chapman and Kirti Minocha felt the students would be more receptive of a message coming from their peers.
“I noticed a difference in one person’s attitude on how they viewed impairment with a drug like marijuana,” said Chapman.
Minocha said the information the students took away from the presentation is very informative.
“I thought the presentation was awesome,” said student Matt Haley. “I’ll be more aware when I’m driving after what I saw on the crash scene.”
Almost 200 Grade 10 students viewed the presentation, which was hosted by the SADD group, the Teen Health Centre, Cumberland District RCMP, Cumberland Health Authority, EHS and the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board’s Schools Plus program.
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