Pubdate: Wed, 12 Apr 2006
Source: Golden Star (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Golden Star
Contact:  http://www.thegoldenstar.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2144
Author: Ryan Starr,  Star Editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

ROTARY RECRUITS METH TASK FORCE CO-ORDINATOR

The Golden Rotary Club has recruited a task force co-ordinator to 
manage the first phase of a community initiative that will explore 
strategies for preventing crystal methamphetamine from taking hold in Golden.

Kathy Collins, who previously spent years working at a youth centre 
in downtown Kelowna (where use of the drug had reached epidemic 
proportions), sees the chance to help Golden develop a program to 
deal with the issue early on as extremely valuable.

"This is a community where meth is starting to show its head, but 
it's not yet full-blown," says Collins, who has a degree in social 
work and has completed a practicum with the B.C. Ministry of Children 
and Families.

"So I think it's a great opportunity to be involved in something like 
this -- to determine what we need in our community to enable us to 
respond to this."

Collins' hiring was made possible through a $20,000 Union of B.C. 
Municipalities grant provided to the Rotary Club through the office 
of the B.C. Solicitor General. The money for this first phase must be 
used by September. An additional funding process must be undertaken 
to secure money for the second phase of the Golden initiative.

Among her various tasks in the first phase, Collins will research and 
organize information on meth use, risk and production, and look at 
examples of other community's approaches to the issue.

She will also organize a community meeting to bring all stakeholders 
together to discuss a community action plan and create an educational 
campaign to increase knowledge and awareness around the issue of meth use.

"It's scary to see the impact meth can have on youth," says Collins 
of her previous work experiences. "How quickly you can see a kid 
who's got it all together turn around to the point where you don't 
even recognize him anymore. It's really sad."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom