Pubdate: Sun, 20 May 2007 Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 The Morning Star Contact: http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) KITS HELP COMBAT METH Some local organizations are using the tools of education to combat crystal meth in our community. The North Okanagan Crystal Meth Prevention and Awareness Project, along with several other organizations, have put together resource kits on the drug for the community. The kits are in every school in the Vernon School District as well as 20 different agencies, including the Community Policing Office, Vernon Boys and Girls Club, First Nations Friendship Centre, Vernon Jubilee Hospital and the Upper Room Mission. The idea is to provide the community with knowledge about the potential impact crystal methamphetamine can have on an individual, a family and an entire community. "It's all about getting conversation started," said Lisa Levesque, North Okanagan Crystal Meth Prevention and Awareness Project co-ordinator. The kits have everything from a gripping video about life on crystal meth to statistics and information on where to get help. Some of the information included comes from the Centre for Addictions Research, which states that three to nine per cent of public students have used meth. According to CAR, a 2003 survey showed that 70 per cent of street-involved youth in Victoria and Vancouver have used crystal meth. But the other side of the story is that, according to one survey, 86 per cent of students have never used any "party drugs," which include meth and ecstasy. Organizers of this project would like to keep that level of non-users high -- and are doing so through education. Rachael Neuhaus, Vernon Community Policing Office co-ordinator, points to the impact education has made in other communities, such as an Alberta town that saw outlying areas dealing with a lot of crystal meth problems, but managed to minimize its problems by educating its citizens on the dangers of the drug. "They chose to saturate the community with education," said Neuhaus, hoping similar effects will transpire locally. "We really missed the boat on crack, this time we're not," said Neuhaus, referring to the level of crack cocaine use that possibly could have been minimized with more pro-active education efforts. Vernon School District's substance abuse prevention counsellor Doug Rogers is pleased to see these information-wealthy packages entering the schools. "With one drug and alcohol counsellor in a district of 9,000 we need to empower the parents and teachers," he said. Rogers added that students will also likely pick up on the information and bring it back to their families. The information is also particularly useful for frontline-type agencies dealing with individuals with drug problems. "We definitely have X percentage of our guests with crystal meth so this will help us better know what we're facing, what we're dealing with," said Andrew Yeo, Upper Room Mission manager. The North Okanagan Crystal Meth Prevention and Awareness Project was formed late last year with the intent of addressing the potential concern early. It has provided training to frontline agencies, raised awareness by working with the media and bringing in public performances addressing the issue. "This project was about prevention and awareness, and we feel that we have laid the ground work, and instigated conversations throughout the community," said Levesque. Funding for the project was provided by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The one-time grant of $50,000 runs out in June. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath