U.N.B. SECURITY STAFF SHOULD RESIGN!!!

I found it, Read this story that was printed in the Brunswkckan in December 2003! I told the staff about the issue of Ritalin but they didn't act. But then again? It's only Charles and he doesn't know what he's talking about!



http://www.unb.ca/bruns/0304/13/index.htm

NEWS | DEC 3RD - 2003

Still collecting signatures

By Carole Morris
The Brunswickan (Printer Friendly Version)

After surviving the heat waves of the summer, the brisk winds of the fall and preparing for the snowstorms of winter, Charles Leblanc is still collecting names for his petition.


Leblanc, who has been camping in front of the Fredericton legislature for more than five months, is still busy explaining to people what attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is and why the public should worry about children being medicated for the disorder.

"I'm looking for a committee, a public committee, to go around the province and study the issue of ADHD and stop young kids, as young as four years old, from taking Ritalin," said Leblanc.

"I mean, these kids are highly intelligent, they could be the future politicians, they could be the future Wayne Gretzky's, they could be the Bill Gates' [of the future]."

With more than 9,300 signatures, Leblanc is aiming for 10,000 before he considers letting a politician present it to the House of Commons.

Former Opposition House Leader, Bernard Richard, was supposed to present Leblanc's petition, however, Leblanc said he has now asked Fredericton North Liberal MLA T.J. Burke to present it.

"Hopefully T.J. will give a good, emotional presentation."

Leblanc has been traveling across Fredericton to find people who understand the issues surrounding ADHD. He said Ritalin is over-prescribed in this province, especially in Fredericton.

"I get a lot of [signatures] from junkies. I mean, I'm the man on the street. I went up to the rough part of town. A lot of these kids… told me they were forced on Ritalin at a very young age and now they are on cocaine and dilaudids."

Leblanc has spent a lot of time talking to Fredericton's youth. Until last week, he visited both UNB and STU campuses. He said he was told he wasn't allowed on UNB campus.

Reg Jerrett, the director of UNB Security, said Leblanc is mistaken.

"It's not that he's not allowed on UNB campus; solicitation is not allowed on UNB campus," explained Jerrett. "So, going around soliciting names, according to the university policy, is not permitted."

Leblanc said not being able to discuss the issue with young people is unfortunate.

"It's too bad because these kids… know what I'm talking about when I mention the word [ADHD or Ritalin]," said Leblanc.

"There are a lot of stories from students at UNB who don't have ADHD [but] they crush the Ritalin to pass their exam(s)," Leblanc explained.

"We've got a major problem here."

According to Jerrett, no problems concerning Ritalin abuse has been brought to the attention of UNB Security.

"I'm not aware of a problem of that nature on campus and quite frankly, that's the first time that I've heard about it," said Jerrett.

Leblanc said that by "drugging" the youth of today, there could be harsh consequences in the future.

"These are the future taxpayers. What are they going to be in charge of in about 20 years from now: a bunch of druggies?"

Leblanc is planning on staying for "as long as it takes" to form a committee and have the issue of over-prescribing Ritalin addressed.

"I did achieve my goal to educate the public of what's going on here and what I want to achieve [now] is to have a committee go around the province and treat these kids with ADHD with dignity and not drug them. I will stand until the end of time but I don't expect the government to listen."