OAKVILLE, Ontario, April 18, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An education program from MADD Canada and generously sponsored by Alcool NB Liquor (ANBL) is giving New Brunswick students a powerful look at how all their ‘tomorrows’ can be taken away when someone gets behind the wheel impaired by alcohol and/or drugs.
MADD Canada’s 2018-2019 School Assembly Program, titled No Tomorrow, is a 45-minute film which begins with a fictional story about a group of teen friends, and concludes with the stories of real-life victims of impaired driving. It shows students how mixing alcohol, cannabis and other drugs with driving can have tragic and permanent consequences. The formal presentation is supplemented by an Educators’ Guide to help teachers and counsellors continue the crucial sober driving conversation.
Crashes were the leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 16 and 25 years in 2014, and MADD Canada estimates more than half of those crashes involved alcohol and/or drugs.
“With our School Assembly Program, we start a conversation with students, not only about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving, but also about how they and their friends can avoid putting themselves at risk,” said MADD Canada Chief Operating Officer Dawn Regan. “Our goal is to ensure young people know that impaired driving is completely preventable.”
MADD Canada and ANBL, the Provincial Sponsor of No Tomorrow, are visiting students at Carman Bliss Middle School in Fredericton today for a special screening to highlight the program’s tour of schools across the province. ANBL is directly funding 56 presentations to New Brunswick students and schools this year.
“ANBL is proud to continue helping MADD Canada open this important dialogue with young people,” said Brad Cameron, acting President and Chief Executive Officer of ANBL. “This powerful presentation will help students understand that impaired driving is not an accident, it’s a choice, and they have the power to prevent it by making safe and responsible decisions.”
No Tomorrow tells the story of bandmates Marcus, Corey, Trevor and Lee. After winning a contest to record a demo, they get an incredible chance to audition for a music school. Before their audition, Trevor has a few drinks. He is affected more than he thinks, and makes mistakes during the audition. Marcus is offered a spot at the school right away, and Corey and Lee are given an opportunity to re-apply next year. But Trevor, who was obviously impaired during the audition, is not offered a spot or chance to re-apply. The school has a zero
tolerance policy for alcohol or drugs. Trevor storms off to the car. Marcus tries unsuccessfully to take the keys. Realizing he can’t stop Trevor from driving away, Marcus jumps in the car. What happens next changes all of their lives forever.
A clip of the program is available on MADD Canada’s web site.
Surveys show MADD Canada’s education efforts are resonating with young people. In a 2017-2018 survey about that year’s School Assembly Program, titled The Pact, students said:
- the program effectively delivered the sober driving message (66%);
- it motivated them to make the right decision when it comes to preventing impaired driving (74%);
- they had or planned to have conversations with family and friends about impaired driving (73%);
- and they supported having a similar presentation at the school the following year (97%).