Breaking the Cycle of Addiction
As part of National Addictions Awareness month (Nov. 2003), Kahnawake Survival School contacted Viva Consulting Family Life Inc. and asked them to do an educational presentation for their school. Mr. Sol Boxenbaum, the company’s CEO and spokesman, who is considered one of the principal consumer advocates in Quebec and Canada on issues concerning the dangers of the rapid expansion of legalized gambling, agreed to speak. Knowing Mr. Boxenbaum to be a straightforward and passionate speaker, they invited him to speak to the entire student body, to inform them about the risks and dangers of excessive gambling.
In late November, Mr. Boxenbaum gave a series of fifty minute presentations to all of the students of Kahnawake Survival School (grade 7 to grade 11). The principal objective of the presentation was to alert the students to the dangers of problem gambling.
Mr. Boxenbaum explained that we are in an era where gambling has become normalized. Lottery corporations target young people and groom them to be future (if not immediate) clients by the choice of games being offered: scratch tickets, sports wagering games, and the 6/49 lottery. These games defeat any messages promoting the work ethic. Instead, they suggest that for $1, you can be a millionaire. Radio and TV commercials for lotteries end with a tag line that says, “You must be an adult to play the lottery.” Does this message deter young people from playing, or does it send the message that you can be an adult by playing the lottery?
Because children are known to emulate their parents’ behaviour, the theme of the presentations was “Break the Cycle”. Gambling is an adult activity for very good reasons. The role of the student, at this point in life, is to get an education, develop a career, and then decide what activities to choose as entertainment. According to several studies, high school students already are developing gambling problems at two to four times the rate of adults. Gambling can be as dangerous as drugs or alcohol, yet few schools have a policy of warning of the risks. Mr. Boxenbaum told the students of KSS that they were much more fortunate than their parents or older siblings, because they were learning things at this presentation that no-one had ever told the others. Their elders had all been misled by the gambling industry into believing that gambling was only entertainment. He assured the students that there was nothing wrong if their parents go out to Bingo occasionally. This could be an outing and an opportunity to socialize with friends. However, if their parents go every night desperately trying to win money in order to pay household expenses, there is a problem and a serious one at that.
His multi-level presentations held the interest of all the students. At the conclusion of each session he invited the students to participate in a poster contest: they were asked to design a poster to help teens understand that gambling is a high risk behaviour that may have serious consequences for the individual and for the family.
As a result of the presentations, Viva Consulting Family Life Inc. received forty-two (42) posters. Selecting the prize-winning posters was a very difficult assignment for our panel of judges. Every submission was a winner, because every poster revealed that the student had received the basic message of the presentations. Thanks to the generosity of several Montreal West merchants in the vicinity of our office, and to Sonny Joe Cross of the Tickle Trunk and Sharon Cross of Digital Dream Catchers of Kahnawake, there were prizes for everyone. Each entrant received a movie pass to Guzzo Cinemas. Many students received an additional prize and Honourable Mention credit as well. The major prize winners received gift certificates to Chapters/Indigo Books, Music World, and Future Shop.
In the prize winners, there were three prizes awarded as “Bright Ideas”
- Lauren Salas for the “Chocolates of Gambling”
- Drew McComber for the “Caution” poster
- Kyle Williams for his 3-panel “ImpulsiveTeen”
The top prize winners were:
- Kaylia Diabo Morris - 3rd Prize for “The Dream Catcher”
- James Curotte - 2nd Prize Tie for “Rich / Poor”
- Mary Kate Deer - 2nd Prize Tie for “Lucky Rabbit’s Foot”
- Carlee Diabo - 1st Prize for “Win it Back? Don’t Bet On It”
All of the posters demonstrated that the students had found the presentations worthwhile. Some of these posters will be appearing on our website with this article, and hopefully others will be added soon.
This event is intended to be used as a pilot project for similar proceedings to be presented at English language high schools and CEGEPs on and off the island of Montreal.
Anyone wishing further information about sponsoring such a session for your school or organization should contact Sol Boxenbaum via this website or phone (514) 486-6226.
