Pubdate: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 Source: Grand Forks Gazette (CN BC) Copyright: Sterling Newspapers 2000 Contact: Box 700, 7330 2nd St., Grand Forks, B.C. V0H 1H0 Fax: +1-250-442-3336 Website: http://www.sterlingnews.com/Forks NEW DRUG PROGRAMS VICTORIA - Three new programs designed to help communities across the province fight substance misuse were announced Nov. 17 by Edward John, minister for children and families. In conjunction with Drug Awareness Week 2000, John announced grants totalling $110,000 to help communities identify and meet local prevention and health-promotion needs. "Prevention is the best way to tackle substance abuse," said John. "Through grants like these, the province will continue to support communities as they set up and improve their own awareness programs." This year also marks the first online edition of the Directory of Addiction Services in British Columbia. The directory is used by professionals who work in the fields of substance misuse and problem gambling. The online edition will complement a hard-copy version produced through a partnership between th B.C. government and the Kaiser Youth Foundation. The online directory can be reached through the Ministry for Children and Families' Web site at http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca or the Vancouver Public Library's Web site at http://www.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca "I am pleased that our partnership with the Ministry for Children and Families has resulted in this important directory being offered online," said Edgar J. Kaiser, chairman of the Kaiser Youth Foundation. "We have a good working relationship that benefits those in need of services in our province, and we are happy to be able to serve in this way." A third program announced during Drug Awareness Week is a series of learning workshops for the province's alcohol and drug prevention workers. These workshops will take place in March 2001 in the Lower Mainland. "Like other professionals, prevention workers need to stay on top of the latest development in their field," said John. "These workshops will help them do that, which will make them more effective in preventing substance abuse in our communities." Drug Awareness Week gives individuals and communities a chance to work together to raise awareness about preventing alcohol and other drug misuse. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake