Minister: “Stopping Drug Use Before It Starts”

February 16, 2013

Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley spoke yesterday [Feb 15] in the House of Assembly about the cross-ministry initiative between the Public Safety and Education Ministries that supports Bermuda’s drug prevention efforts in “stopping drug use before it starts.”

The “Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices” programme uses fun lessons, puppets, music, and teaching approaches to try and teach kids to make positive choices. Minister Dunkley said, “By intervening early we can begin to address the issues plaguing our community involving drugs, crime and gangs.”

Minister Dunkley’s full statement follows below:

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to update this Honourable House on the Cross- Ministry Initiative between the Ministry of Public Safety and the Ministry of Education that supports Bermuda’s drug prevention efforts in “Stopping drug use before it starts”, as highlighted in the National Drug Control Policy, Master Plan and Action Plan.

Mr. Speaker, Since 2009 the Department for National Drug Control, a department under the Ministry of Public Safety, has worked in collaboration with the Department of Education to introduce a comprehensive curriculum and teacher training program that develops social-emotional skills, self-control, problem-solving abilities, and healthy decision-making in children ages 3-8 years old.

The Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices programme is recognized as an evidence-based, model, prevention program. Through fun lessons, engaging puppets, original music, and effective teaching approaches, the Al’s Pals programme aims to:

  • Help young children regulate their own feelings and behavior, allowing educators more time for creative teaching by reducing the need for discipline
  • Create and maintain classroom environments of caring, cooperation, respect, and responsibility
  • Teach conflict resolution and peaceful problem-solving
  • Promote appreciation of differences and positive social relationships
  • Prevent and addresses bullying behavior
  • Convey clear messages about the harms of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs
  • Build children’s abilities to make healthy choices and cope with life’s difficulties

Mr. Speaker, Phase I of this initiative was conducted in March 2009 when sixty (60) educational professionals, including pre-school teachers, para-professionals and school administrators in the public school system received training to deliver this tested effective curriculum based programme.

Reports from the Early Childhood Education Officer at that time were positive. It was reported that the Al’s Pals programme allowed teachers to be creative whilst delivering the individual lessons and is suitable for interacting with all students.

It was also stated that the programme allowed the students to participate actively in the activities without difficulty and to receive long lasting and encouraging messages for positive decision making. Some teachers have noted that they have seen definite positive changes in children’s behavior when using this programme.

To date all pre-schools in the public system are using the programme and are reporting positive responses from our young students.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday morning, February 11, 2013, I had the pleasure of opening the 2nd Phase of the Al’s Pals curriculum training programme for P1 and P2 teachers along with a refresher course for those previously trained in 2009.

The goal of the Phase II implementation is to ensure the continuity and consolidation of healthy decision making and clear messages that “no use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs is acceptable”, throughout the Primary School levels (Kindergarten, P1 and P2).

There were sixty (60) Education professional in the full course and another Forty-eight (48) who participated in the Refresher sessions. The full course included two full days of training focused on the research behind the Als Pals curriculum followed by interactive, hands on training on how to effectively implement to curriculum to our young people.

The refresher course which was for three (3) hour sessions, focused on a review of key elements of the programme; discussions on real classroom successes and challenges and further skills training to address identified challenges.

The goal was for all participants/ teachers to leave the training equipped and competent in implementing the curriculum in their classrooms.

Mr. Speaker, The Department for National Drug Control (DNDC) has funded this training programme and provided each education professional with classroom kits that include the Al’s Pals puppets, 48 lesson plans, a teaching guide, music dvds etc. with the goal of ensuring that our young students receive critical skills and knowledge to equip them to effectively navigate the numerous challenges that they are presented with in their young lives, especially those related to managing decisions around alcohol and drug use.

The accompanying goal was to ensure that teachers can more effectively address classroom concerns such as:

  • Managing Anger and aggression
  • Managing Defiance and oppositional behavior
  • Addressing the Lack of social skills and
  • Providing Age appropriate alcohol and drug use prevention education

Mr. Speaker, words cannot express the necessity of instilling pro-social values and supporting positive behaviors in young people as early as possible.

Early anti-social behaviors are a key risk factor for future problem behaviours in children and The Al’s Pals Programme is designed for professionals to intervene early when children are first forming attitudes and behaviors.

By intervening early we can begin to address the issues plaguing our community involving drugs, crime and gangs. Thank You Mr. Speaker.

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Comments (8)

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  1. Mad Dawg says:

    Does Marc Bean support this initiative or not? Yes or no?

    • WhistleBlower says:

      What is your problem?? Would you be as bold to say this if your real name was used or picture displayed?? Why do people do this immature personal character assassinations here? Oh yes I remember why! They do NOT have the BALLS to stand up OPENLY and address their thoughts, opinions nor views?

      Why do you NOT ATTACK the DRUG DEALERS who have made MILLIONS selling HEROIN, COCAINE and ALCOHOL and other drugs on OUR SHORES at the EXPENSE of EVERYDAY hard working, honest BERMUDIANS???

      STOP being a PRICK if you do not like him fine! BUT look in your OWN family and be HONEST about WHAT THEY DO!!!!

      SO sick of COWARDS hiding behind the

      • Triangle Drifter says:

        WOW! Are Mad Dawg’s fleas biting you?

      • Toodle-oo says:

        And why should this be deemed as some sort of ‘immature personal character assassination’ on Marc Bean ? He is ,after all the leader of the opposition . What is his and his party’s take on it ?

        You sound like you’re being defensive for some reason. Do you know something that you think the rest of us should be protected from , if in fact some don’t already know ?

        Are you insinuating that your family is comprised of big time drug dealers and you assume that everyone else’s are too ?

        Iquiring minds and all that stuff .

      • Mad Dawg says:

        How can it possibly be an a “immature character assassination”? I’m just asking whether the leader of the opposition believes in stopping drug use befiore it starts. Let’s see whether he comes out in favour of the idea. Or not.

        By the way, get stuffed with the crap about using “real names”. I’m pretty sure your real name isn’t “Whistleblower”. But I guess it’s ‘different’ when it’s me though, right? Jerk.

    • M.P. MOUNTBATTEN JP says:

      You’re question here should be , How many people actually started their miserable descent into a life of using drugs , prostitution , stealing , breaking and entering , overdosing , the US stop list , gang affiliation , drug trafficking and drug pushing off of the poison that was stolen from the Supreme Court safe ? It is a sensible initiative and will be fully supported by the Opposition .

  2. Come Correct says:

    You want to stop drug use before it starts? Follow scientist for a day.

  3. Clear Picture says:

    The big dealers need to be caught not only the end user! So many speak out of both sides of their mouths.