Pubdate: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 Source: Parksville Qualicum Beach News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Parksville Qualicum Beach News Contact: http://www.pqbnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1361 Author: Colleen Dane, staff writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) LOCAL METH TASK FORCE GOES FULL CIRCLE It was actually fall in 2004 that staff working at the Society of Organized Services Child, Youth and Family Centre starting noticing people coming in acting differently. Acting differently even for people who were struggling with addictions. "We were seeing kids coming in doped up, and we didn't know what it was," says SOS executive director Kevin Wilson. The frontline workers for the organization were the people who finally began putting their finger on what it was, 'crystal methamphetamine'. "They figured that's what it was and that was the new drug of choice for the kids," says Wilson. They decided they had to do something about it as a community. With the Oceanside Community Crystal Meth Task Force announcing last month its wrap-up in the new year, Wilson says they believe they've made a difference for those in the community affected by the drug. "Kids that were on the stuff when we started are working in jobs now," says Wilson. The idea for a task force came initially from Maple Ridge, where a rampant homelessness problem revealed a deeply-rooted problem with crystal meth. The task force there was the first of its kind in B.C. Oceanside took its cue from them, focusing on three areas, including education, treatment and enforcement. The first meeting in June 2005, brought out volunteers from many different areas in the community, around 60 signing on to be a part of the over 12 sub-committees that had been set up. Wilson says the negative response they had been warned would come from a public not wanting to see or admit to evidence of the ugly drug in the area, never came to be. Buoyed by their initial success, the OCCMTF hit the road running. First off the blocks was the Meth Watch program, organized by the Oceanside RCMP Auxiliary, which taught local businesses about products used in the production of crystal meth and dangerous combinations. Public education was addressed through media reports, public presentations and a resource directory. As the OCCMTF grew, its plans and structure did as well. Finding that the Maple Ridge model didn't specifically suit their needs, alterations were made to streamline their work to focus on youth more specifically. It was the around 120 seriously-affected young people in Oceanside who were top on the lists to be helped, says Wilson. "Anyone could see these kids roaming around Parksville. You just had to stand still for five minutes." Most ambitiously, Wilson says they had to find a way to better treat these youth aE"more recovery facilities were identified as absolutely necessary. With a combined fund from the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Vancouver Island Health Authority, and the SOS, two homes will be able to support a bed each for recovering users. After detox, they will be able to stay in a supportive safe harbour bed. The OCCMTF took other important steps as well, says Wilson, from starting a parent support group and an addict support group to opening both education-focused nights and afternoon outreach times for youth. They've also organized training for volunteer outreach work, and police have started working with the City of Parksville to develop a bylaw that will deter rental units from becoming meth production labs. Youth education is being picked up by the local school district itself. An initial 90-day process extended over six months, says Wilson, but he says it's been worth every moment's time. On Jan. 31, the OCCMTF will release a final report on their work, and then shift into a smaller organization that will simply keep the programs that have been developed, running. What they've proven in 2005, says Wilson, is that a community brought together, even under sad circumstances, can accomplish all it needs to. "Just the fact that we've been able to have the community serve together in a way like never before," says Wilson. "What can you say, what can you do but say thank you to the community, a huge thank-you to the community?" - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin