Pubdate: Thu, 02 Feb 2006 Source: Williams Lake Tribune, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Williams Lake Tribune Contact: http://www.wltribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1226 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) CRYSTAL METH FORUM TONIGHT The community public forum on the drug crystal meth amphetamine takes place tonight, February 2, at the Elks Hall from 7-9:30 p.m. The evening will include a questions and answer session with guest speakers who are specialists in the field of drug abuse prevention, treatment, and enforcement. Keynote speaker Keith Pattinson has played a key role in the introduction of a wide range of innovative services and approaches benefitting children, youth and their families throughout Canada for the past 40 years. He has pioneered the introduction of the Search Institute's asset approach in Canada since 1998. A master storyteller he has delivered over 400 keynote addresses and workshops focusing on positive youth development. His message offers hope, encouragement and practical ideas for those young and old who wish to become increasingly significant influences in the lives of young people. Speaker Bob Huges is a drug treatment counsellor with the Phoenix Centre in Kamloops. He is also founder of the MethKickers treatment program. delivered from the Phoenix Centre and has become widely known as a pioneer in addiction treatment for crystal meth amphetamine. Huges will give a presentation on harm reduction providing answers to common misconceptions and concerns. Speaker Cst. Paul Collister is the drug education officer for the northern region of the RCMP. Collister is based in Prince George providing drug education programming throughout the region and providing support and training to RCMP members. He is one of 20 drug education officers throughout British Columbia. Collister's presentation will provide an overview of the pervasiveness of crystal meth amphetamine and its effect on the social fabric of communities as well as its toll on enforcement resources and community social health. The Thursday evening public forum will be followed by workshop on Friday, February 3 at the Elks Hall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those who wish to participated in the workshop are asked to call David Sheach at the Boys and Girls Club at 392-5730 or Roseanna McGregor at the Cariboo Friendship Centre at 398-6831 to register. The Friday workshop will include the Thursday evening speakers plus additional speakers. A community planning session on harm reduction, prevention, treatment and enforcement will also be held in the afternoon. Outcomes of these discussions will be collated, circulated, and shared with local governments for use in framing next steps in planning on how to deal with the problem. The forum on crystal meth amphetamine has been coordinated by an ad hoc committee of community social service agencies and government health and social service employees, and donations from the Daybreak Rotary and the Elks, as well as a financial contribution from the City of Williams Lake. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom