Pubdate: Tue, 12 Jul 2005
Source: Parksville Qualicum Beach News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Parksville Qualicum Beach News
Contact:  http://www.pqbnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1361
Author: Steven Heywood
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

HOLDING BACK THE TIDE

The methamphetamine crisis being experienced in Oceanside is creating 
waves in the community - from the creation of a local task force, 
charged with finding solutions and offering resources, to an addicted 
teen stepping up and encouraging others not to start using.

The crystal meth scourge has been coming (or has already been here) 
for some time and we applaud local efforts to recognize it, identify 
the cracks through which the drug becomes an option and establish 
community resources to which parents and users can turn for help.

The task force itself has set a lofty goal of trying to hit up 
government for long-term or even temporary beds to hold addicts as 
they try to get off the junk. The intent is a good one, and it puts 
the focus on the health care system - meaning the task force is 
considering meth addiction a health issue, not a criminal one.

That is the key - understanding that addiction is a health issue. The 
drug's effect on the body must be considered in that light, or else 
the person cannot be treated effectively.

Stick solely with the criminal aspect of drug use, and the user 
cannot be completely cured. That's not to say the illegality of meth 
and other drugs should be ignored - there's still the matter of 
pushers and cookers to be dealt with.

As the task force itself admits, creating new beds for addicted teens 
- - or at least safe shelters for them to sleep the night off of our 
streets - will be a struggle. There are more people in need of such 
places than there are available, they say.

It is for this reason that the Oceanside meth task force could 
ultimately become a prisoner of the system - spending most of their 
time lobbying government, trying to steal an extra slice of the pie.

That's there we come in.

We need to make noise from the grass roots of our communities - and 
let it be known that we are not ready to let meth and addiction take over.
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MAP posted-by: Beth