Testimonials

The following excerpts are a sample of the endorsement and testimonials that we have received for our program. Also included are excerpts from the evaluations we get the youth to fill out when they come on the tour. 

“When I first was accepted to go on the “Scared Straight Tour”, I had a very strong feeling that I was not going to be scared straight and also thought it would be like taking a walk through downtown Victoria.

But soon into the tour I was learning a lot of different things about drugs such as crystal meth, cocaine and heroin. There were hundreds and hundreds of drug addicted, homeless and mentally ill people down there. It was like a whole city full of these types of people. I learned and saw the effects of the drugs on the addicts on the Eastside. The lifestyle that the people live down there was a non stop drug circus. All they care about is getting high. They’re whole life revolves around only that. One guy that we met and talked to was 22 years old and told us that the longest he had been high and not slept for was a 31 day period.

The tour itself really affected me because I was told by a lot of the drug addicts that the reason they were where they are today is because of smoking pot and drinking as a teen. I was very scared in the tour especially on the night walk because there were so many addicts around us high on drugs.

A lot of the addicts that were down on the Eastside did not all come from bad families or bad upbringings, they just got into the wrong things and it went down hill for them.

This program should be offered to all teens, especially those who think that drugs are not that controlling. The most important thing would be to teach this to kids at a younger age, before they start using pot and alcohol. I think once you start using drugs, you start to believe that they are not controlling you, but they are.”

Kenny Dallaway

Scared Straight Tour participant

 

“I think that the scared straight tour was an awesome tour and many more kids should get the chance to go on it. It’s changed my life, as I know it; I’ve stopped using drugs and raving after seeing what it can do to you and where you can end up in life it I keep using and partying like I was. After being on the tour I learned so much important stuff; and one f the things I learnt was that if I keep up with my life of drugs and partying that there will be a very big chance that I’ll end up out there, Homeless and looking upon other homeless drug addicts to live. It was a horrible place to be; but also wonderful at the same time. Because of the stuff I learnt whale there!

I really think that Pierre should try to take as many youth as possible. And I hope that they will look at this the same way I have. So they can make better choice as I have Id just like to say thank you to all the people who helped put this together. My eyes have been open to a new road full of opportunities Thank you!”

Amanda Hawkins

Scared Straight Tour participant

 

“I applied for this because a lot of my best friends are doing pot and stuff. My best friend has been clean for 4 weeks, from cocaine and some other kinds of drugs. I know so many other kids that could really use this. I would like to see more kids who get this opportunity. This really helped me learn about drugs and I can now tell my friends where they’re headed and it’s not good.

I love the people that I met and got to talk to and see. I know it will impact my future and hopefully some of my other friends will get to go on this. I know it will help me through life.

I really enjoyed it and I hope this short letter well help you guys in getting the Scared Strait tour going. So many more kids can realize the stuff they’re getting into that our generation do go down the drain!

Thank-You so much for taking me on the Scared Straight tour!”

Louise Nickerson

Tour participant

 

To whom it may Concern;

Our daughter recently returned from a three day excursion to witness the street and drug culture of Vancouver’s lower East End. She applied to go after listening to a speaker in her school, and after some introspective moments where she assessed her personal risk factors. We are proud of her for this leap in self- awareness. We would like to thank the supporters of the “Scared Straight” program for giving her an unmatchable opportunity to explore the consequences of self- destructive activities, within a guided program. Experiential learning is an essential part of my daughter’s education. She has difficulty recognizing cause and effect relationships, especially relating to behaviour and lifestyle choices. The impact of this trip was profound.

“We believe that the “Scared Straight” program with Pierre Morals, Dr. Stephen Faulkner and their chaperone connects directly to teens that may be at risk for marginalization and poor lifestyle choices. Each of these teenagers wields considerable peer influence within their teen network. Their support for drug free choices is meaningful throughout the wider community of Cowichan Valley youth. This program is truly a powerful way to reach many with a well- planned and economical use of resources.

Experiential learning has proven to reach those individuals that lectures, literature or legal deterrents fail to address. We strongly support this meaningful program and encourage you to commit funds and support towards the teens of the Cowichan region through the “Scared Straight” format.

Thank you for your support.”

Sincerely,

Susan Wells and David Nickerson

 

What did you like about the tour?

“I liked that people were being real with us. They didn’t try to sugar-coat anything. They let us see what its really like when you get hooked on drugs”

“The thing I liked about the tour was going to the Eastside and seeing the truth about drugs and how it destroys people’s lives in the blink of an eye”

“It was really hard to see what I saw down here but I learnt a lot. I liked how everybody we met wanted to teach us about the dangers of doing drugs. I thought they would try to sell me some, but they all wanted to tell me their story so I would never start using them”

“Meeting all those people, the homeless people, the addicts, the sex-trade workers. They all taught us that drugs ruined their life and I am very grateful for that lesson. I will never do drugs again!”

 

Did it change your attitude about drugs?

“I’m going to stop smoking weed and drinking!”

“Yes, it enforced my stand against drugs & alcohol. I actually saw & heard so much just being on the tour. This was an awesome experience”

“Yes. I don’t even know about smoking grass now.”

“It absolutely changed my look towards drugs and alcohol and I hope to God no one and my friends and family end up like that, especially me.”

“Yes this tour changed my way of looking at drugs. I thought weed was cool, but now I look at it and I really don’t want it to lead to other kinds of drugs.”

 

What would you change about the tour?

“Not a single thing! I thought the tour was awesome. The Scared Straight Tour makes a person open their eyes to a lot of things. I didn’t know how much you could learn in 2 days”

“I would make every single kid in the world go on this tour”

“Nothing except that more kids should go on it”

“Nothing. I think the tour was really great. I would like to take some of my friends on it so that they wake up and realize where they are heading.”

 

 Other endorsements:

Please accept this letter as the City of Duncan’s endorsement of the Scared Straight Program. The City of Duncan received a grant for a crystal meth education program and Mr Morais, of Clear Waters Counselling Services ran this program. Mr Morais took Duncan youth to Vancouver for a Scared Straight Tour as part of the crystal meth education program and all reports indicate that the youth who participated came away with a changed perspective of the harm caused by drugs and alcohol. City Council would like to see this type of program more widely accessible.”

Cheryl Wirsz

Director of Corporate Services

City of Duncan

 

“I believe this to be an excellent program to be made available to all students of British Columbia and would not hesitate to recommend that you invite Mr Morais to your community to do a presentation on the Scared Straight Program.”

Stan Piper

Principal Cowichan Secondary School

 

“This is an excellent program that should be offered in all school districts of BC, especially those communities most at risk of drug abuse. I am happy to recommend Mr. Pierre Morais and his presentation on the Scared Straight Program. I would not hesitate to have Pierre return to our school and present again.”

Larry Mattin

Principal Adult and Alternate Education

Cowichan Valley

 

“This letter is to express my support for the Scared Straight Program. Mr Morais came into our school last fall to do a presentation on crystal meth and the Scared Straight Program. We were very impressed with what we saw. A number of students and teachers expressed their strong approval for the presentation.”

“As part of the program, 10 youth from our area were sponsored to go on the Scared Straight Tour to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. From all accounts this was a very powerful experience for them with many of the participants stating their intent to avoid drug and alcohol use completely after witnessing what they did in Vancouver.”

H.S. Jawanda

Principal

George Bonner Middle School

Cobble Hill, BC

 

Letter to Minister George Abbott

Provincial Legislature

Victoria, BC

“Dear Minister Abbott,

I would like to state that I wholeheartedly support the Scared Straight Tour, part of a local Crystal Meth project which has been coordinated by Pierre Morais.

To date 10 students have been able to take advantage of this program. Eighty have expressed interest, but due to lack of funding were unable to participate.

It is encouraged that additional funding be provided for this very worthwhile program to allow additional students to be able to observe first hand the results of drug use. Being faced with reality is more effective that theory as a deterrent.”

Doug Routley, MLA

Cowichan-Ladysmith