Pubdate: Thu, 02 Feb 2006 Source: North Shore News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 North Shore News Contact: http://www.nsnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/311 Author: Erin McPhee Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) CAMPAIGN BOOSTS CRYSTAL METH AWARENESS Members of the North Shore Crystal Meth Task Force are four weeks into a 90-day public awareness campaign supported by a diverse group of dedicated community members. The campaign kicked off Jan. 9 and task force members are confident their efforts are being felt. "We're starting to accomplish some goals," said the task force's primary spokeswoman, Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong of the North Vancouver RCMP. "We're finding that people are calling us for assistance because of the publicity that we're getting," she said. York Regional Police officers recently flew in from Ontario to learn more about the local campaign. As well, the North Shore group has taken calls from a department in Red Deer, Alta. "They're impressed with how far we've come along," said Armstrong. The creation of the task force marks a partnership between law enforcement, social issues workers, youth, health professionals and members of the community at large coming together to fight the use of crystal methamphetamine on the North Shore. The task force was formed following community meetings held in the summer based on a model created by Maple Ridge residents, which imposed strict timelines and a holistic community approach to attack the problem with the drug in their community. The North Shore task force is comprised of approximately 50 members, divided into three subcommittees focused on education, law enforcement, and treatment and recovery. While actual numbers of users have been difficult to pinpoint - as it's believed crystal methamphetamine is sometimes laced in other drugs - those involved in the task force assert that meth addiction does exist on the North Shore, and it's a problem. The North Shore campaign is focused on local youth. One aspect of the 90-day public awareness campaign is the work being completed by a five-member team of girls under 21. The team met through their various North Shore volunteer commitments and a shared interest in making positive change in their community. "I've had a lot of friends as well as just acquaintances who have had problems with drugs. So drugs in general, and this because it was such a harsh drug, and we were able to do something about it . . . I thought it would be a great place to start," said team member Denise Wong, 20, who works with the North Shore Disability Resource Centre. Wong said she likes the fact that they have been involved in the project from its inception and will follow it through to its end goal, an important early lesson of youth empowerment and potential. The girls first met with doctors, police and others knowledgeable about crystal meth to prioritize what projects they should undertake. "Especially North Van, a lot of people think that it's not a problem so we've got a lot of information about what's going on here," said Wong. "We're trying to be community-focused." Team member Aleyna Golinsky, 20, a first-year student studying business marketing at BCIT said a lot of her peers are seemingly in the dark about crystal meth use and its effects. "It could be your next door neighbour, it could be anybody," she said. As a result, the dissemination of information continues to be the team's greatest concern. "People won't show interest until you give them the information to make it important, and that's the whole point of this thing," said Wong. Team member Yudi Duque, 18, a Grade 12 student at Sutherland secondary, said she only heard about the drug after a recent move from Columbia to the North Shore. After learning about the harsh effects of use on the user, his or her family and the community at large, both socially and environmentally, she said her involvement has made her realize the importance of valuing life. "Life is more than this," Duque said referring to meth addiction. "Life is full of opportunities and future. . . . This is just the opposite of that." The team has built community kiosks to be put on display across the North Shore in places like schools, recreation centres, malls and the local mountains. The team has also been preparing informative resources in the form of a brochure, multimedia presentations for local politicians and the community at large, as well as a North Shore-focused crystal meth website including information on the drug and where to go for help. Team member Adrianna Golinsky, 18, a first-year student at Capilano College studying arts said they plan to continue raising awareness about the dangers of crystal meth use in some context long after the 90-day campaign wraps up based on a need for more education and treatment for local residents. "It's humbling, you're just like 'Wow, my pretty North Van: nice mountains, clean air,' but there's a lot more in it," she said, referring to what she has learned. The fifth team member is Daniela Ugarte, 18, a first-year business student at Simon Fraser University. For more information about the team's initiatives or to arrange for a kiosk to appear in a public place, e-mail the team at Besides the work of the team, there are a number of other task force initiatives underway as part of the campaign, said Armstrong. Members of the education subcommittee have developed a comic book and a brochure; they plan to meet with the North Shore schools' parent advisory committees, and are in the process of designing a "drug proof your kids" workshop for parents as well as a program to educate landlords on what to look for in cases of meth production in their buildings. The law enforcement subcommittee has created a first-response protocol for fire, police and ambulance personnel, and municipal bylaw enforcement officers and inspectors in case a crystal meth production-related call comes in as there are many dangers involved in handling such a situation, Armstrong said. The task force's judicial committee has been making recommendations regarding law reform in the area of sentencing of users and dealers, as well as suggestions on how police can improve their service to the courts in this area. A meth watch group targeted 200 North Vancouver businesses on Jan. 14 educating staff on what to look for as meth is produced through combining items available at convenience and grocery stores. West Vancouver businesses will soon receive this education. The treatment and recovery subcommittee has created a first-responders treatment team to jump into action when required, and is continuing to advocate for more detox and treatment facilities on the North Shore. A crystal meth anonymous group has been established and a support group for families is in the works, said Armstrong. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom