Student in Area Schools Continue to Have Drug and Alcohol Prevention Message Delivered in Schools Port Alberni schools and RCMP are marking the 12th year that D.A.R.E. has been offered to area students. This year, all Grade 5 classes in the Alberni Valley received the first level of the drug prevention program, Drug Abuse Resistance Education. It is part of the RCMP'S Community Prevention Education Continuum, and is the first step to teaching youth the importance of making good, healthy choices when it comes to drugs and alcohol. [continues 654 words]
With the serious topic of drug addiction on the floor, the Port Alberni Friendship Center was packed last week as the Alberni Valley Social Planning Council shared their plans for the future and launched their new harm reduction tool kits. The kits include information on how to dispose of needles properly, access to support services and harm reduction friendly sites within the city. Myron Jesperson, a member of the Harm Reduction Roundtable, introduced the kits to the large crowd. He said the meeting was a good starting point, a view that was shared by the other two speakers of the day. [continues 209 words]
After working for more than a year, the Harm Reduction Round Table is launching its Safe Needle Disposal Took Kit this week. The group, which is a sub-committee of the Alberni Valley Social Planning Council, is partnering with the Vancouver Island Health Authority to offer the kit. Spokesman Myron Jesperson said it is important to focus on harm reduction, even though sometimes people consider it controversial. He stressed that often addictions are hard to beat, and it is not as easy as just stopping. Harm reduction can act as a bridge for people who are not yet ready for treatment or rehabilitation. It is also known to reduce other risk factors such as overdose or the spread of diseases. [continues 302 words]
Crystal Meth BC Gives Kids The Goods On How The Harsh Drug Ruins Lives Crystal meth is cheap, easy to make and easy to get. That's why the Crystal Meth Society of BC wants people in Port Alberni to put on their meth glasses. "People think it is just another drug," explained Mark McLaughlin, executive director of Crystal Meth BC. "It isn't. Meth is a clear and present danger. It is more dangerous than any other drug. This is not a recreational drug." [continues 848 words]
What would you do if you found a bottle with a dozen needles stored in it? That is a question the staff at the George Hale bottle depot had to deal with this week. On Thursday one of their returns included a Gibson's bottle with approximately a dozen bloody syringes stored inside. "It was busy, and we didn't get the table cleared right away," explains Rebecca Head, one of the workers at the bottle depot. "I stopped my aunt from shaking them out and called the hospital." [continues 668 words]
People in Merritt who have addictions have one more challenge they must face. A couple of months ago the Conayt Friendship Society (MHHS) stopped allowing their drug counsellor to treat non-native people suffering from addictions. Since then there has been a hole in the system that needs filling. Marilyn Tolmie, of the Merritt Helping Hands Society, was outraged when she discovered there was no longer someone in Merritt that was responsible for offering this service to non-natives. "Mental health and addiction issues are completely different," explains Tolmie. "They have to be treated that way." [continues 430 words]
Together the City of Merritt and the RCMP are making a difference in the community. Local RCMP officer Cst. Tracy Dunsmore says the city's new controlled substance bylaw is helping them fight the growing drug problem in the community. "It sends a message that Merritt isn't friendly to grow ops," she says. "There's still a lot out there we don't know about, but we're getting there. " Dunsmore notes that Merritt is not unique in its battle against drugs, but she adds that Merritt is a difficult community in which to battle drugs. She's not sure why, but residents don't tend to complain when there is a suspicious house on their block. Lately that is beginning to change as more people are issuing complaints. Although she is unsure of the reason, Dunsmore is happy to report that the trend is starting to change. [continues 897 words]
Their Message Was Clear -- It's Time to Crack Down on the Business of Drugs in Merritt. More than a dozen people came out to protest at City Hall on Friday and to show their support for Harvey Keys and his effort to fight the growing drug problem in Merritt. As the protest moved to Voght Street the numbers of protesters decreased but their message was well received and support was obvious from the honking of horns from passing cars. As for Keys, he was happy with the turnout for the protest and he was pleased to receive a message of support from Mayor David Laird. [continues 531 words]
A crack pipe has caused a lot of commotion in Diamond Vale. The pipe and some empty plastic bags were found last week on the playground of Diamond Vale Elementary raising questions in the minds of parents on how safe their children are. "There are two houses within a block of the school that are crack houses," explains one parent, Shannon Ware. "A lot of kids are scared to walk to school." The problem is not a new one, but the discovery of the drug paraphernalia in the field has made it a top priority for the school and the parent advisory committee (PAC). [continues 727 words]
If funding comes through, Merritt may soon have a new needle distribution program. The program would be fashioned after the Nicola Valley Street Nursing program that used to operate out of the health unit when it was in downtown Merritt. It will offer clean needles to IV drug users on a weekly basis, as well as an opportunity to get valuable information and help. The project is the brain-child of Dan and Marilyn Tolmie, Brian Hopkins, Hughie McKenzie and Marlene Beck. They formed the Merritt Helping Hands Society, a group dedicated to helping people with addictions. They first got involved following a discussion group at the Gathering of Voices workshop in February, but for most of them the story started long before that day. [continues 724 words]
The key to solving any problem is understanding it. With that in mind the local RCMP detachment arranged a crystal meth information session in Merritt last week. Judging by the packed room of more than 50 people, this is an issue of great concern. "We are thrilled with the turn out," explained Cpl. Andrew Burton, the officer who organized the meeting. "It shows a lot of interest and is a really good start to tackling this issue." Two speakers were on the agenda for the seminar. The first was Const. Dean Gladue, from the RCMP's Drug Awareness Service, and the second was Jim Laidlaw, the adolescent addictions outreach worker from the Phoenix Centre in Kamloops. [continues 398 words]
Last week we all listened with horror to the reports of the tragic loss of four RCMP officers in Alberta. Not only was this killing unbelievable but also it was also unprecedented for more than 100 years. As I listened to the news I couldn't believe my ears. It sounded more like I was watching an episode of Law and Order rather than the evening news. But it was reality, though one few of us can understand. As I got more details on the incident my horror only grew. Just before I went to bed I heard one of the RCMP officers had only just graduated in mid-February. My heart began to beat out of my chest for my best friend from college had just completed her training and received her badge in mid-February. Worse than that, she was stationed in a small town just outside of Edmonton, and I couldn't remember the name of it. [continues 684 words]
A new drink, available in Vanderhoof, is getting a lot of attention lately. It is called 4:20. For most people that doesn't mean much, but for teens it has a lot more meaning. 4:20 refers to April 20 at 4:20 a.m., when marijuana smokers join together to celebrate being potheads. It started following a large drug bust on April 20, 1971. Judy Carnell, program director and counsellor at Vanderhoof Alcohol and Drug Services, and Public Health Nurse Danelle Zwick agree this drink is targeting young people and is sending the wrong message. [continues 317 words]
Drugs are no longer only a big city problem. The acceptance of drug use is ever increasing in today's society. If anyone thinks Vanderhoof is an exception all they have to do is talk candidly with some high school students, and it soon becomes clear this is not the case. This is exactly what the Express decided to do. We interviewed a cross section of the student population. This group included students of various age groups, races and levels of drug experience. Their names have been changed, but this is what they had to say about drug use in our town. [continues 1634 words]
