"We'd like it not to happen in the first place," said Michelle Thoms, SADD advisor at St. Pat's.

To achieve that goal SADD and other groups that advocate sober drinking habits have been educating youth to try and instill healthy lifestyle habits.

"The goal is to be pro-active. Punishment is reactive," said Thoms.

"We're trying to give kids tools to live a good life and a healthy life. The better you feel about yourself the less likely you are to turn to artificial means to make yourself feel better about yourself."

SADD is trying to promote that philosophy with the help of MADD (Mother's Against Drunk Driving) and Motivational Media Assemblies Canada.

Every year the agencies collaborate on two intensive multimedia presentations and a curriculum aimed at promoting positive youth attitudes.

One presentation is geared towards junior and senior high students and the other at elementary level children.

Titled "Under Pressure," the high school presentation targets issues teens face on a regular basis.

Focusing on alcohol as an overall theme the presentation also touches on drugs, sex and peer pressure.

The message is aimed at helping youth say no to peer pressure and become a positive influence for others to do the same.

The elementary presentation, "Shout," deals with elementary issues like bullying, peer pressure and ridicule. The goal is to combat negative habits that could lead to more serious problems in the future.

Thoms said SADD has brought the presentations to local schools in the past and they have been well received. This year with the help of the Department of Transportation, First Air and Chateau Nova they were able to do it again.

Thoms said the only cost to the schools was the cost of the presentation.

Travel and accommodations were covered by corporate sponsorship.

Schools in both Yellowknife Education District No. 1 and Yellowknife Catholic Schools will be capitalizing on the presentations.

Thoms said that initiatives like this have been effective.

"Attitudes are changing. I can't give you stats, I can only tell you what I see in our school. More and more people are talking about it now than they have ever talked about it before. They are talking about it in a way that says we don't accept this," said Thoms.

"I feel a lot safer about being on the road."