YOUNG kids are being exposed to a new ice age – and not the animation movie kind that they are used to.
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The ice epidemic continues to sweep across the nation, indiscriminately, with addicts young and old, rich and poor, falling victim to the highly-addictive drug that is fast becoming one of the most dangerous and easily-accessible kind on our streets.
As Tamworth cements itself as a strong anti-drug city, with a handful of ice task action groups spearheading awareness campaigns, it will now also play host to a national-first. Tamworth students will be the first in the country to participate in a new education module geared at breaking the national ice epidemic.
Life Education launched its new Decisions module at Tamworth Public School on Monday, aimed at educating students in their later years of primary school on how to make the right decisions when faced with illicit drugs.
Life Education CEO Kellie Sloane, who was in Tamworth for the first class and a community information session on Monday night, said the city was chosen due to its strong stance against ice and other drug use.
Ms Sloane said it was a timely move for ice education programs to be rolled out across schools because the federal government, parents and communities were “crying out for this kind of support”.
The work of Life Education is probably best known through the face of Healthy Harold, a travelling independent program that educates kids from pre-school through to high school about health and drugs.
Teaching young students about illicit drugs through age-appropriate teaching techniques is a step in the right direction.
The ice epidemic’s grip has become so tight on the country that children need to be part of the conversation immediately.
It is a reflection on our society – and a damning one at that – that educating kids about ice and peer pressure is now a reality.
The Decisions program doesn’t aim to use shock tactics to scare kids, but instead talks to students, aged from 10 to 14, about the dangers of drugs, and the basic facts about what they do to their bodies and minds.
The program could also be rolled out across other schools in the New England North West patch if principals choose to take up the Decisions module.
Education is the key to tackling this epidemic. Starting the process as early as possible can only be a good thing.