PRIDE Prevention is this week and as a part of the celebration PRIDE is wishing to celebrate advisor — Ms Hollis, who currently works at Northlands Primary School.

Ms Hollis, school counsellor, has worked with PRIDE and the Principal there to make sure that every student is receiving substance abuse prevention education.

They are the only school that has achieved this so far.

“We are really excited about and proud of this accomplishment.” Samantha Smith, Programme Coordinator, PRIDE Bermuda.

Young Observer jumped on board and met Ms Hollis and some students at Northlands earlier this week to find out more about Ms Hollis’ passion for PRIDE.

Tell us a bit about your schooling and career to date…

“I am Bermudian, I attended Warwick Academy when it was a public school then went on to Queens University in Ontario and then to The University of Toronto where I received my Masters in Social Work. I came back to Bermuda and have worked in various schools. I have been the school counsellor at Northlands for eight years.

Why are you so passionate about PRIDE?

“I love children. My passion is the children... the children are so willing and open to talk about the sales and consumption of drugs.

“They are very knowledgeable from the age of five to 11. Some of the children grow up in environments where they think drugs are OK.

“As an educator you hope that something you say clicks either now or later on in their life and that hopefully something you have said will help them make the correct choices in the future.”

Have you seen any differences with the students over the years? ie are students more aware of drugs nowadays?

“Nowadays it is all around them. In their homes, neighbourhoods and the media such as: TV, internet, social media and so on.

“More recently it has been in the news with regard to the decriminalisation of marijuana.

“I am finding as an educator that this causes a lot of dilemma and raises many questions for the children.”

What ages do you advise parents start talking to children about the harm of substance abuse?

“When you think your children are old enough to understand the word ‘dangerous’ or that they understand something is wrong for them, then that is the time to start talking to your children.”

What substances do you focus on with your students and why those ones?

“In the PRIDE Life Skills Training we concentrate on alcohol, cigarettes and our conversations stretch out to include marijuana and cocaine. These seem to be the more common drugs that the children are exposed to.

“For P6 students, I also incorporate the Lung Smart Programme from Bermuda Cancer & Health. Ms Rhonda Smith Simmons is the presenter and comes out to the school to talk on the consequences and risks of smoking. I recommend it to all of the schools.

“In the PRIDE Life Skills Training we concentrate on good decision-making so when the children grow up and face these opportunities to experiment due to peer pressure; we hope that they have a good foundation for making the right decision.”

Can you give us any suggestions for how best parents should approach Substance Abuse with their children?

“I think parents should be open and the best role models that they can be.

“Children will not always remember what you say but they will always remember what you do! The children need to know that many companies nowadays require drug testing and so if they are working towards a certain type of job, drug testing may be a requirement.

“Another tool I have found useful is that of the TV adverts and info-commercials highlighting the dangers of smoking and drinking.

“These make an impact on the children. I also take the P6 students once a month to do community service at Bermuda Cancer & Health.

“We usually fold pamphlets or put information packets together for the patients. This gives the students an opportunity to ‘give back’ and they absolutely love it.”

Do you think more should be done in our community as regards awareness campaigns on substance abuse?

“I don’t think there can ever be enough awareness campaigns on substance abuse in our country.”