Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2006

Drums, Not Drugs! Program Approved
by Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police

Diana's Drum is proud to announce that its pilot project, Drums, Not Drugs! has been approved for funding from the 4th Annual OACP Substance Abuse Committee Grant Program 2006.

The Drums, Not Drugs! program partners Diana's Drum with St. Peter and St. Paul's Catholic School of Durham, Ontario, to create and launch a therapeutic drumming program for the school's students to address the need for increased awareness and substance abuse prevention in area schools and the surrounding community.

The specially-designed therapeutic drum sessions will engage 50 grade 6, 7 and 8 students, staff and parents/family members. The rationale for the Drums, Not Drugs! program is based on the reasons why kids might choose to engage in substance abuse versus providing an effective intervention that promotes mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health.

HealthRHYTHMS® is an evidence-based therapeutic drumming protocol that has been used as a successful intervention with at-risk youth throughout North America in a variety of settings. It is particularly effective in helping youth with self-expression, stress-reduction and in community building. The protocol to be used was developed by Dr. Barry Bittman, a neurologist who was able to measure a clinically significant level of stress reduction in participants.

The goal of the Drums, Not Drugs! program is to educate youth about the dangers of substance abuse and to empower youth to respond to negative peer pressure and prevent substance abuse.

Students will be guided, through each drum session, to a greater awareness of the pitfalls of using substances and engaged in an exciting, productive and empowering alternative.

A police officer will be involved in drumming activities as a source of information about substance abuse and the effects on our municipality and to build rapport with students.

Diana's Drum looks forward to working with its partners in serving the students and surrounding community through our Drums, Not Drugs! substance abuse prevention program. We'd like to thank the OACP for their generous donation and support of this innovative, exciting program.

To find out more, contact Zoë at (519) 376-8787.

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