A concerned group of citizens will hold a forum on the dangers the highly addictive and increasingly popular drug crystal meth on Monday (April 11) at 6:30 p.m. at Brennan Park Recreation Centre. Members of the 樱桃视频Breakfast Club began discussing the issue several months ago, and they've booked numerous experts to speak and take questions and Neil, a former user who has been speaking in local schools and was profiled in The Chief, will share his story.
"It's important because of the severe drain it can cause on society," said forum co-chair and local RCMP victim impact services manager Glen Watson.
The forum, entitled "Sea to Sky Communities Say Know," will discuss topics such as the impact of meth and other substance abuse in the community, how easy it is to get the drug and how easy it is to make the drug.
"We want to tell people to be aware of what is out there and what the material it is that's needed to make meth and how it is easy it is to go into a corner store and buy these items off the shelf and put together a lab," said Watson.
The forum is open to everyone, including children as young as 12 because "at that age in school they can be exposed to that sort of stuff," said Watson. The group hopes that once the public is further educated, people will become proactive, preventing 樱桃视频from having the "major problem" currently faced by many areas in Canada and the U.S.
RCMP Sgt. Colin Worth says that the 樱桃视频community has exceptional community involvement.
"I don't know the last time I sat in a room with such a wide variety of people around this committee work," said Worth. "We've got people involved from the schools, we've got citizens from the community, we've got a drug and alcohol counselor, we've got all of these really neat people who are concerned about 樱桃视频as a community. And I think that makes 樱桃视频unique and a very positive uniqueness not a 'Oh my God, we're falling apart, we have to have this meth committee.' I think more it's a pro-active thing and it's hugely positive."
A similar forum first shed light on the issue of crystal meth two years ago, and since then the School District adopted a different response to drug abuse in schools, involving teens in treatment for first-time marijuana use instead of imposing long suspensions. Now it's time to renew focus, said Sea to Sky Community Services drug and alcohol counsellor Denise Evans because certain initiatives discussed two years ago "just petered out."
"We'd like to take the energy and create a comprehensive treatment and prevention plan for the corridor," said Evans.
Speakers include Roger Lake, part time local resident and member of the Washington State Narcotics Investigators Association, Dr. Jim Jamieson, Neil and numerous panelists to answer questions. There will also be a theatre performance by 樱桃视频Youth Resource Centre.
Free food and child-minding will be provided at the event.
