Before she launched into her powerful musical performance during the Get Plugged In event opening, Theresa Point told the audience of 150 attendees about her own awakening. Hospitalized because of drug abuse and struggling with alcoholism, the young woman made a decision to quit drugs and alcohol and to start singing her story. "Where I got today is because I've made some healthy choices in my life."

Get Plugged In, an event for youth and adult allies focused on making healthy choice about substance use, took place Saturday, November 18 in Vancouver. Co-organized by Vancouver's Drug Policy Program and youth, the event featured musical performances, some short addresses, the screening of four claymation videos and films created by youth, some improv theatre and an afternoon of workshops all focused on the theme of preventing harm from substance use. This was the first of what will be an annual prevention event hosted by the City of Vancouver . The event was one of the recommendations in the Drug Policy Program's report, "Preventing Harm from Psychoactive Substance Use," which was unanimously adopted by Vancouver City Council one year ago.

To read a one-page summary of the event and to view the claymation videos and films from the event, please go to http://vancouver.ca/fourpillars/documents/GetPluggedInSummary.pdf.