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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom