Pubdate: Thu, 09 Sep 2004 Source: Mission City Record (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 The Mission City Record Contact: http://www.missioncityrecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1305 Authors: Parents Night Out PARENTS SPEAK OUT ABOUT METH Editor, The Record: We are a group of parents who have children and youth involved in alcohol and drug use. We use "tough love" with our children and provide support, outreach and information to parents. We help to build skills and confidence in parents, increasing their abilities to live and deal with their kids. We are concerned parents who want to get the message out to the community that crystal meth is a killer. No kids are safe from its effects, and it has devastating effects on parents and families. We want to dispel the myth that it is not a problem in our community. The reality is that it is wide-spread and right in our own backyard. We do not fit the misinformed stereotype of the kind of parents whose children would use drugs. We represent all walks of life, from working class to professionals. Some of our children were top students at school. We, as a group, are willing to expose ourselves in order to facilitate prevention through education. We can answer questions and share with others what we have learned and experienced. Parents need to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of substance abuse in their children. Parents also need to know that they and their children are not "failures." We are wanting to take action to get our community back. We support the efforts of Fraser House and the Rotary Clubs in facilitating the upcoming crystal meth forum on Sept. 29, and we hope others in the community will join in the efforts to create and maintain our children's and community's health and safety. Parents Night Out Mission - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin