Pubdate: Fri, 02 Dec 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: Colleen Dane
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH GROUP MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

It's crystal clear that the Oceanside Community Crystal Meth Task 
Force has accomplished all they can as a group, and it's time they 
call it quits, says chair Kevin Wilson.

"As of January 31st, we've achieved as much as we're going to 
achieve," says Wilson, making the announcement on Wednesday. What 
they've accomplished in the five months they've been at it he adds, 
is a lot, especially when considering the challenges faced along the way.

"We have achieved so much, we've got kids off the streets, we've got 
programs running," says Wilson.

Based on the Maple Ridge version, the OCCMTF had to recreate their 
organizational plan to adapt to Vancouver Island and the Oceanside 
community in particular. That plan is now helping task forces 
springing up in Nanaimo and Victoria, adds Wilson.

As far as the three focus categories of education, enforcement and 
treatment, the task force has put together initiatives ranging from 
the development of a local recovery bed network, to free lecture and 
information nights.

They've also released a resource directory for people dealing with 
addictions, started a parent support group and an addict support 
group, as well as opened youth centre connections through an 
education-focused night and afternoon outreach time.

They've put together the training for volunteer street outreach work 
so people can be in contact with young users who are not often going 
home and they've begun working with the City of Parksville to develop 
a bylaw that will deter rental properties from becoming meth lab sites.

The Meth Watch program, which educates stores about potential 
ingredients for the drug, is up and running.

The only goal they've left behind, says Wilson, is education of 
students through schools. The development of that initiative though 
has been taken on by School District 69 (Qualicum) and is ongoing.

The biggest accomplishment, says Wilson, is the ongoing development 
of two recovery beds in the Oceanside area.

With $80,000 brought together by three partners (Society of Organized 
Services, Ministry of Children and Family Development, and Vancouver 
Island Health Authority), two homes will be able to give recovering 
addicts a place to stay until they're on their feet again. The 
standards and guidelines have been developed, and an advertisement is 
already running to find the homes -a selection process being 
organized by the ministry.

It's important that people know, adds Wilson, that the task force was 
meant to get these things started, but not meant to stay together 
once they were on their way.

All of the programs that have been launched will continue, he adds - 
as well as advocacy for Island-wide initiatives such as mid-Island 
detox beds for youth.

"We're not going to drop that, and we're going to keep moving forward 
- -I'm not giving up."

The Jan. 31, 2006 date has been chosen so final steps can be taken to 
tie up loose ends, says Wilson.

"We're at a point now when we need to finish some outstanding issues, 
we've set a date for January 31, at that point, we'll have a full 
report on what the task force has achieved."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman