INUVIK - Watching images of a young man mutilating himself in a drug-crazed state reminded 16-year-old Bradley Charlie he made the right decision to stay away from drugs and alcohol.

Sgt. Mark Steinkampf recounts a few of his experiences patrolling Vancouver's downtown east side to Samuel Hearne Secondary students on Nov. 18. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

"It was pretty gruesome," said Charlie. "I haven't seen videos like that before. Yeah, it's messed up."

On Thursday, Charlie and his fellow Samuel Hearne Secondary School students got an up close and personal education about the perils of drugs from a trio of police officers who patrol the streets of Vancouver's notorious downtown east side.

The officers, Sgt. Toby Hinton, Sgt. Mark Steinkampf and Det. Elvis Bellia are part of a non-profit group called the Odd Squad that travels across the country giving presentations to people of all ages about the dangers of substance abuse.

Armed with footage and photographs, they shared stories with students, from desperate teens prostituting themselves for their next fix, to a man throwing himself from an apartment building in a drug-induced rage to addicts who died instantly by injecting toxic heroin.

Charlie said in Grade 6 friends tried to pressure him into drugs and alcohol but he said he was strong enough to say no.

"I don't understand why people do it," he said. "I saw what they were becoming. I could just predict what was happening to them. Now I'm ahead in my life and they're going down a dead end road."

The Grade 11 student spends his spare time involved in healthy activities, like playing soccer, volleyball, basketball and track and field.

He has a message for the people who are looking for a way out

"Just think about your life and really think about how you feel afterwards," he said."How does it make you feel? Does it make you feel good or guilty?"

Those words are music to Sgt. Toby Hinton's ears. He said these presentations give him an outlet for the horrific situations he deals with. Charlie's courage gives him the belief the Odd Squad is making a difference.

"We sometimes hear good things from the students and I know something can be learned by the massive tragedy we deal with every day."

The group also made a presentation to Sir Alexander Mackenzie school students and a healthy crowd at the community hall Wednesday evening.

Afterwards, Hinton said, a tearful mother stood up beside her daughter and announced she had quit drinking two weeks ago. A doctor on hand spoke about the health crisis facing the community stemming from so many residents abusing their bodies.

"That people came out in large numbers tell me people care here," said Hinton.

Though he says there's no magic bullet to ending substance abuse, Hinton believes part of the solution starts with youth and providing healthy activities for them.

"It's about community members getting involved in young people's lives, working with them to find out what they want, what's their passion."

Hinton said he constantly reminds himself that substance abuse is preventable and treatable.

"The solution isn't one presentation," he said. "It's not going to come from one direction. It's got to be a pile of different things. We have to be there to support our youth."

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