Student leaders at Tilbury District High School have been recognized for their efforts to raise awareness about drug and alcohol abuse.
Twenty-five students participated as peer leaders in a program called Challenges, Beliefs and Changes ( CBC ).
The pilot program, led by TDHS principal Pam Dobbs, Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit nurse Stephanie Hillman and Chatham-Kent Police Special Const. Charlene Mitchell, trains student volunteers to discuss issues of substance use with their younger peers in grades 8 and 9.
A ceremony was held at the high school on Thursday to honour and thank the peer leaders for their work.
As a show of appreciation and congratulations, Chatham-Kent Police Chief Dennis Poole presented the students with certificates.
"You will make a difference in the lives of other people, and we're very proud of you and of the work you have done," Poole said.
He also praised the idea of "teens talking to teens" as an effective method for raising awareness of drug abuse.
"Certainly, it is a problem in every community, and there's no way that police on their own can deal with it, especially just through enforcement," Poole said.
"So by having our young people engaged -and the community engaged -we hope there will be a huge impact on the younger people that we're trying to get to -and that will lead to healthier lifestyles in the future," he added.
To date, the peer leaders have offered training to 65 students at TDHS, 46 students at Tilbury Area Public School, 35 students at Wheatley Area Public School and 17 students at Merlin Area Public School.
Echoing Poole's comments, Hillman said the dedication of the students was instrumental to the program's success.
"We know, historically, that adults going in to teach youth haven't been as effective," said Hillman.
"Research is now showing that peer-on-peer education tends to be more effective and the feedback from the elementary students who have received the training has been positive," she said.
According to a confidential evaluation of students from the Tilbury and Wheatley public schools, 91 per cent said they found the peer training more effective than adult training and 81 per cent learned "something new" about alcohol and drugs.
In addition to the contributions of the peer leaders, Hillman said the partnership of the health unit, the Lambton- Kent District School Board and the police service has been a key component of the program.
