Pubdate: Wed, 26 Apr 2006
Source: Airdrie Echo (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Airdrie Echo
Contact:  http://www.airdrieecho.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1558
Author: Anne Beaty, Airdrie Echo

CONCERNED CITIZENS JOIN FORCES

In response to widespread concerns, the newly formed Airdrie regional  
drug impact team is taking a proactive approach to the issue of drug  
use in the community.

Bringing together representatives from a wide variety of resources --  
Airdrie Emergency Services (AES), RCMP, AADAC, social services, youth  
organizations, North Rocky View schools -- the team aims to provide  
education, raise awareness and offer prevention and intervention  
initiatives in regard to such drugs as methamphetamine.

"It's an interdisciplinary group of people," team member Suzanne  
Rieger said. "It's all a completely voluntary organization."

Although the devastating effects of methamphetamine have not yet  
reached epidemic proportions in the community, the regional drug  
impact team wants to take steps to stop any drug problems before they  
start. As such, the project-based team will be focusing on the whole  
spectrum of drug abuse and how best to educate the public.

"We didn't want to nail it down to one drug -- and of course, alcohol  
is a drug," Rieger said.

As an AES member, a local business woman and a mother, Rieger sees  
the drug issues from both professional and personal perspectives and  
she wants to be able to make a difference in her community.

"We have kids and we understand the impacts," she said.

The team's next meeting is in mid-May and Rieger said that public  
input and community involvement will be welcomed down the road. In  
the meantime, she said, any type of corporate or individual  
sponsorship and support would be appreciated.

"We're very limited at this point in time as to funding that we  
have," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jackl