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The Mission of the Council on Drug Abuse (CODA) is to prevent and reduce substance abuse through education impacting children and youth.
In 1969, when the Council on Drug Abuse (CODA) was founded, the prevailing view was that with a proactive approach, the disturbing trend toward drug abuse, especially among youth, could be halted if not eradicated. This opinion was shared by concerned corporate leaders in the pharmaceutical industry in Canada whose mandate to supply potentially live-saving drugs to the public was being undermined. Spear-headed by Murray B. Koffler, O.C., then President of Shoppers Drug Mart, they formed CODA to embark on a youth education program about the hazards of misusing drugs. Little did those founding members realize that drug abuse would become a worldwide epidemic, escalating annually as the population aged and younger users entered the arena. For over three decades, CODA has addressed the challenge, making notable progress through programs such as:
- Sponsoring interactive school presentations and awareness events
- Convening an international, scientific symposium that was telecast nationally
- Retaining consultants as educational spokespersons
- Customizing workshops and programs to meet the needs of specific schools and communities
- Coordinating 'Man and His Drugs' pavilion at the Canadian National Exhibition
- Publishing a variety of informational pamphlets available free across Canada
- Participating in public policy debates on the non-medical use of drugs
- Partnering with like-minded organizations
- Co-Founded the 'Drug Education Coordinating Council' comprised of 22 community, professional and government groups
- Expanding its target audience to include students (Junior Kindergarten to University), teachers, parents, health professionals, law enforcement personnel and juvenile offenders
- Assisting with the establishment of Pharmacists Against Drug Abuse, People to Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (PRIDE), Parent Action on Drugs (PAD), Alliance for a Drug-Free Canada and the Multi-Faith Task Force on Substance Abuse
Each year, CODA touches the lives of thousands of students, teachers and parents in Ontario and beyond. While hard statistics are difficult to come by, it is certain that over the past three decades, CODA has influenced many in positive ways. Case studies and testimonials bear this out. CODA is a Canadian charitable organization that receives financial support from the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion. It relies on foundations, corporations and individuals to complement its program funding requirements.
CODA's educators are available for a wide range of programs.
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Heather Angus-Kelley
Heather Angus-Kelley received her degree in Social Work from Carleton University. She has worked with youth over the past 15 years. Most recently, she has worked front line in a treatment centre for youth. After five years of counselling youth that have developed addictions to drugs, alcohol and/or gambling, she has decided to join CODA and focus on the prevention end of the spectrum. In addition to working with youth, Heather has focussed on developing and facilitating seminars on women's health issues, parenting difficult youth and team building in the workplace. Heather has specialized in working with young people who have a concurrent disorder diagnosis. (Mental health and addictions) Within this work, issues of self-harm, disordered eating, self-esteem and abuse issues are always front and centre. Her strength is in her experience as she has been involved with the highest risk youth over the years. Working with hard to serve youth has prepared her well for this challenge. She is able to connect with youth and speak their language. There is no topic that is off limit and all questions are welcomed. She presents in a very interactive style and incorporates humour into her presentations as she does within her own life. For a small change of pace, Heather owns and operates an antique and furniture refinishing business with her husband. She is the proud mother of three girls who certainly understand the drawbacks to having a social worker as a mom. She is an avid golfer, downhill skier and has a passion for painting. When there is spare time. Heather is involved with fundraising efforts in women's health areas such as breast cancer and HIV/AIDS awareness.
Delivery Region #4: Champlain
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Dr. Ron Clavier
Dr. Ron Clavier, B.Sc., M.A. (Psych.), Ph.D. (C. Psych), bases his clinical psychology practice on his background as a neuroscientist. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Clavier consults in the corporate, community, health and education sectors. He worked for a number of years as a research consultant in Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and is Senior Consultant to the Council on Drug Abuse. Dr. Clavier's television series, Adolescent: The Stormy Decade, has been broadcast on Vision TV and continues to be broadcast on Canadian Learning Television. Dr. Clavier's most recent book, Teen Brain, Teen Mind, was published by Key Porter Books earlier this year. A father of two, Dr. Clavier and his wife live in Toronto.
Delivery Region #16: Toronto
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Heather Hodgson-Schleich
Heather Hodgson Schleich is a Masters of Distance Education candidate at Athabasca University and holds a B.A. in Psychology from York University. She has been a CODA Educator since 1998, providing the What If? Drug Awareness Program for children aged 4 - 13 years. She also provides CODA's Drugs and The Brain program and Between Life and Death: The Crystal Meth Explosion program. In addition to her roles with CODA, she provides programs on personal safety, bullying awareness and drug awareness at her farm in Paisley, Ontario and to schools across the province.
She has been involved in the drug, alcohol and impaired driving education since 1981. Her 17-year of police career provided experience in general patrol, communications, drug and safety education, (sergeant) supervision of safety bureau and sergeant in traffic services. She has received awards for her work in the safety and drug education field from organizations including the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Drug Abuse Committee, the Solicitor General of Ontario and several community groups. Her 10 years as a college professor and program coordinator provided further experience in researching, developing, implementing and evaluating programs. She is the author of a textbook - Community Policing: Working Together To Build Safe Communities. Heather is a Board Member of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse in Ottawa and serves on the Governance and Nominations Committee and Audit Committee. She is the Vice-Chair of the Grey Bruce Focus Coalition and sits on the Parent Norms Committee. Heather is married, has four children and two grandchildren.
Delivery Region #10: Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth
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Jennifer Hunnisett
Jennifer Hunnisett holds an Honours BA in Psychology from McMaster University and a speciality in Addictions and Mental Health Counselling from George Brown College. For the past six years, Jennifer's experience has been in front line social services with youth. In Toronto, she worked with multiple homeless service agencies and a dual-diagnosis treatment and support agency. In addition, she moved to California to work in a drug treatment program through the State justice system. It was in San Diego that she was introduced to young chronic methamphetamine users. Their traumatic stories and continuous battles with this powerful drug were what sparked her desire for preventative work back in Canada. Jennifer presently works in youth programs in the west-end communities of Ottawa with Pinecrest Queensway Health and Community Services. She is married with a young girl and has lived in the National Capital Region for the last three years.
Delivery Region #04: Champlain & #14: Simcoe-York
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Darlene Kuehn
Darlene Kuehn, B.A. Psychology, M.A. Counselling, is a family therapist in private practice and a member of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists. In addition she provides workshops on smoking cessation, balanced health, burnout prevention and various aspects of relationships. Her work with youth has included doing field research for the Ontario Student Drug Use Survey, counselling with addicted teens, providing fitness classes and health discussion in schools, and volunteering as a community youth leader. She has also participated in volunteer prison visitation to young offenders and other prison populations. While living in Australia she counselled patients in psychiatric wards and was an educator and supervisor to University students studying counselling and mental health. Along with her career as a therapist Darlene has worked in the fitness industry for seventeen years advocating healthy living and promoting wellness and stress reduction through regular exercise. Darlene, her husband and two sons enjoy outdoor sports and community involvement.
Delivery Region #04: Champlain
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Tina Martin
Tina has worked as a counsellor for over 15 years. For much of that time, her focus has been on youth with addictions issues, both substance abuse and problem gambling. She has worked in addictions in Ontario and British Columbia, and also worked abroad teaching for three years in the Middle East. Tina holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Criminology and is a certified addictions counsellor. She believes that drugs and alcohol are more accessible today the ever before, and thus we must empower youth with information to make good decisions for themselves.
Delivery Region #12: Thames Valley
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Jennifer Morley
Jennifer has been working with young people in different capacities for over ten years. She has worked as an educator, tutoring groups of children; she has counselled children and youth both individually and in groups, and she has written and edited articles for two youth magazines. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Guelph and a graduate diploma in Child Studies (Assessment and Counselling) from The Institute of Child Study, University of Toronto. She lives in Toronto with her husband, son, daughter, two cats and a puppy with three paws.
Delivery Region #16: Toronto
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Dick O'Brien
Dick O'Brien, Honours BA, (Psychology), Master of Applied Science (Counselling Psychology), has been a therapist and an adult educator for 24 years. He has been a CODA educator since 1987. Dick has presented to parents, teachers, students; professional care givers, supervisors, business people and police officers for 17 years with very positive results. He uses humour, case descriptions and a high degree of enthusiasm to create a
worthwhile and practical training seminar. Dick is married and the father of one.
Delivery Region #09: Niagara
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Kay Palpallatoc
Kay Palpallatoc, BSc. (Biology-Psychology), B.A. (Spanish), B. Education is a University Spanish Instructor and a High school Science Teacher. She worked for a number of years as a Health Peer Educator and Smoking-Cessation Counselor at Brock University where she led a team of student educators in prevention and intervention programming around alcohol, smoking and stress-related problems. She draws on her background in brain physiology along with her experiences as both a counselor and educator in order to discuss the potential impact drug abuse has in the students' daily lives. Kay firmly believes that through education, love, mutual respect and positive role-modeling we afford our youth the chance to make more informed decisions about drugs and thereby give them greater freedom to choose their own life's path.
Delivery Region #09: Niagara
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Kristy Timco
Kristy Timco has an Honours degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Ottawa and is currently working on a Masters Degree in Sociology from Carleton University. Her thesis area focuses on improving services available to homeless youth who suffer from substance abuse and addiction. She has worked with a wide variety of children and youth of all ages, educating them on the dangers of drug abuse. In addition, she has won awards for public speaking and for organizing peer-counseling groups. After completing her degree, Kristy hopes to obtain a PhD in Addiction Studies and continue her work with youth. Born and raised in Ottawa, she continues to call the city home.
Delivery Region #04: Champlain
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Joane Veilleux
Joane's interests have always been people. She first took a program in Recreation and Leisure Studies because her primary goal was to gain experience and access to various work fields. With this program she was able to work and do fieldwork in hospitals (specifically, dealing with kids and seniors), schools and after-school programs, prisons, autistic centers, international cruises, etc. Next, she decided to join the Monitors' Program and spent a year in Northern Newfoundland, after which she returned to school to undertake a B.A in teaching. After several hours of internships in the classroom, her interest focused on youth aggressiveness and techniques on how to handle their behavior while understanding the motivation behind it. This then led to a master's degree in Anger Management & Conflict Resolution. A series of jobs with the public followed and allowed Joane to take on leadership roles in guiding people, as either a staff supervisor or workshop facilitator role. Her latest endeavor is the one she is most passionate about: giving workshops in the schools on such topics as drug prevention, self-esteem, stress and parents/teens relations. Joane is bilingual in both French and English.
Delivery Region: Province Wide
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