Drug Facts for Young People

Drug Facts For Young People is an English-language magazine published annually by Regional Maple Leaf Communications Inc.^[1] It was first published in 1986 and is aimed at young teens.^[2] Drug Facts For Young People focuses on making young people aware of their own values, the influences of their peers and role models, and encourages them to make a positive choice regarding drugs and alcohol.^[3] Some schools in US and Canada use the book as an extra curriculum activity.^[4][5] Drug Facts For Young People has been endorsed by the RCMP Foundation since 1999 and was formerly illustrated by Ben Wicks from 1996 - 2000.^[6][7][8] After his death, RMC created "The Ben Wicks Award" in his honor and each year, up-and coming artists from Canada and the US entered the contest for a chance to win the right to illustrate the book and collect the $10,000 prize.^[9]

In 2010, RMC chose a former Ben Wicks Award Winner for Elementary Safety Book, Canadian artist Bob Hahn, to create a unique set of animal characters for the publication and the new accompanying website drugfacts4youngpeople.com.^[10]Drugfacts4youngpeople.com hosts annual vids4kids contest, which is a five thousand dollars video contest with various drug prevention related topics each year.^[11]

Former Ben Wicks Award Winners and Illustrators for Drug Facts For Young People Book

1. 2002 - Mike Myhre (Fort St. John, BC)
2. 2003 - Rob Jones (Victoria, BC)
3. 2004 - June Um (Vancouver, BC)
4. 2005 - Jeff Epp (Harrow, ON)
5. 2006 - Ian Maclean (Calgary, AB)
6. 2007 - Rob Seddon (Kanata, ON)
7. 2008 - Rachel Loveless (Edmonton, AB)
8. 2009 - Lettie Lo (Oakville, ON)
9. 2010 - Agnes Wiguna (Toronto, ON)