Pubdate: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 Source: Oliver Chronicle (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Oliver Chronicle Contact: http://www.oliverchronicle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/875 VERY DANGEROUS STUFF The $10,000 received from the province towards a program to counter crystal meth can only help. Crystal meth is only one of a number of drugs that are available to people in our area. It has, however, the greatest potential for harm. Addictive and destructive, it can do huge psychological and physical damage to the regular user and its additive qualities almost ensure that casual users are easily swept into the regular-user category. There may be no single approach that will work with all potential victims of its addiction. The new program will help. What will also help is for everyone who is concerned with the problem to continue to repeat, as often as necessary, to our family and friends the dangers the substance holds for the unwary or foolish. This isn't a situation where silence or turning a blind-eye is an appropriate response. If you see activity that appears to be trafficking, report it to the police. If you suspect a friend or family member is involved, seek professional help. Talk to your children openly about the seductive pleasures that many substances offer and the real dangers that their use can produce. Money helps but it alone will not work unless the community participates in putting out a consistent message that crystal meth use is very dangerous. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman