Pubdate: Fri, 21 Oct 2005
Source: Selkirk Journal (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 The Selkirk Journal
Contact:  http://www.selkirkjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2165
Author: Elizabeth Soto
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Forum Addresses Community's Roll In Crystal Meth Battle

Selkirk Journal -- The START program (Selkirk Team for At Risk Teens) held 
a conference last week as a first step in addressing the issue of increased 
crystal meth use in the community.

"This conference came out of what we were seeing in our community and in 
our client base," said Tammy Thompson, coordinator for START and conference 
organizer. "When we ourselves looked into crystal, we realized we weren't 
fully educated on it and found that other agencies were in the same boat."

Those who attended the conference included probation and police officers, 
social workers, pharmacists, teachers, health care workers and others, all 
of whom might encounter meth use in their jobs.

"We had originally hoped to fill space for 42 participants but we had to 
change the venue to accommodate 70," said Thompson, who said she was 
"thrilled" with the turnout.

The main facilitator for the conference was William Zarchikoff, a speaker 
from Langley, B.C., with extensive knowledge of drug and substance abuse as 
well as justice and social service programs.

Zarchikoff focused on providing information about crystal meth and 
educating participants on the dangers and effects of the drug. He spoke on 
what a community needs to create a strategic plan to address crystal meth 
use through prevention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcement.

Denis Sabourin, a probation officer in Selkirk, says the knowledge he 
gained at the conference has changed many of his views on crystal meth.

"Traditionally meth users are pushed to go to AA (alcoholics anonymous) or 
NA (narcotics anonymous) but this actually can be a trigger for increased 
use," Sabourin said.

Sabourin said he learned that due to crystal meth's unique drug qualities, 
in most instances isolation and withdrawal from drug associates and peers 
is the best course of action for meth recovery.

"People need to change their lifestyle and sometimes even relocate to 
another city. This is fairly landmark for me because it's different from 
traditional treatments," said Sabourin.

Besides education and information, Sabourin says the conference also gave 
him the knowledge to contribute towards a community strategy. "Selkirk 
lacks a drug strategy. What we need is more resources and things like safe 
homes, a place for kids to go where their peers can't pressure them," said 
Sabourin.

RCMP Const. Dwayne Cebryk agrees the community needs to address the issue 
of meth use.

"We're seeing the ripple effects of this drug through an increase in 
property damage, and violent crime and this conference brought home the 
idea that this is not the responsibility of any one agency, this is a 
community issue and it's going to take the community to address it and look 
for appropriate ways to deal with it," said Cebryk.

Thompson believes those who attended the forum will be able to take the 
next step in addressing the issues as a community.

"This forum had all the right people here to make an effective and 
successful community strategy happen," said Thompson.

Thompson says the START program hopes to host more conferences and 
educational forums to address community issues in the future.

For more information about the START program, contact Thompson at 785-4001.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom