Preventing pot use in teens a problem without funding, report says

Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council has a new program in the works with an aim to prevent problematic cannabis use among youth, butfunding for the program is still an unknown.

"You can't do it on bake sales or garage sales or go fund me accounts. You need sustainable funding here, and that's more than three years worth of funding or four years worth of funding. It's longer term," said Michael Parkinson, community engagement coordinator and author of a report the describes the council's visionary program for youth.

"The absence of supporting resources is a major barrier,"

The funding would go toward a Waterloo Region Youth Engagement Strategy, which Parkinson said is in the planning stages.

Preventing 'idle hands'

The strategy would be based on a similar one in Iceland, which is focused on keeping youth active and engaged in recreation and community activities.

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"You know that phrase 'Idle hands are the devils playground'? Well, there's some truth to that," Parkinson said.

"For youth who are interested in paragliding or basketball or scrapbooking or fine arts, making those opportunities available provides that very real alternative to sitting in the back of the school yard smoking cannabis."

In addition to providing opportunities in recreation, the Waterloo region strategy would create a improve access tomental health services for marginalized youth and their families.

Parkinson said the region used to have a rapid response service called inREACH, but it was cancelled a few years ago due to lack of funding.

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"That's the chronic frustration in communities right across Canada," he said. "Even if you're successful at getting funding ... the absence of sustainable funding means you [may have to] shut it down."

He said the Crime Prevention Council has applied to Health Canada for some of the limited funding it does offerbut said that money will only pay to get the program off the ground.