Pubdate: Wed, 26 Jul 2006
Source: Prince George Free Press (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.pgfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2135
Author: Arthur Williams
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

METH PROGRAM HEADED FOR SCHOOLS

The St. Patrick's House Society plans to bring a "meth buster" 
program to area schools this fall.

The program would aim to discourage junior secondary and secondary 
students from using the highly-addictive drug methamphetamine - often 
called crystal meth or just meth - according to society executive 
director Marilyn Rayner.

"Our goal is to take this program into schools to let students know 
what this drug can do to them," Rayner said. "Crystal meth has to be 
one of the most insidious drugs that has hit the streets in recent 
years. It burns holes in the brain - you can see pictures on a CAT 
scan of the damage."

St. Patrick's House is a 20-bed treatment centre for men with drug 
and alcohol addictions. The society recently received $10,000 in 
provincial funding, through the Union of B.C. Municipalities, for the 
drug awareness program.

Although that funding expires in June 2007, Rayner said, if the 
program is successful the society will be looking for additional 
funds to keep it going.

Rayner hopes using multi-media video presentations will get the 
attention of youth. In addition, she said, they hope to bring in 
former residents of St. Patrick's House to speak about their 
experiences with drug addiction.

The second main thrust of the program will be educating parents on 
what signs and symptoms may indicate their child is using 
methamphetamine, Rayner added.

With greater public awareness, she added, there will be more pressure 
for legislators to control access to the chemicals used to make crystal meth.

St. Patrick's House addictions counsellor Andy Donald was the driving 
force behind the project.

"Hopefully we can stop it from becoming a lifelong addiction for 
someone," Donald said. "It's about breaking down the idea that you're 
10 feet tall and bulletproof - that addictions only happen to other people."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman