Pot times July 15, 2005
Meth Task Force Seeks Members
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1117/a03.htmlNewshawk: Herb
Pubdate: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 METH TASK FORCE SEEKS MEMBERS
Source: Salmon Arm Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Salmon Arm Observer
Contact:
newsroom@saobserver.net
Website: http://www.saobserver.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1407
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm
(Methamphetamine)
The Crystal Clear on Meth task force is starting its community outreach and
education phase, then planning to implement strategies to reduce meth danger.
This is not just for parents or teens, the whole community is affected,"
said local social worker Tracy Prince and Deby Kurtz of the Ministry of Children
and Family Development.
The two formed the task force along with fellow social workers Mark Hinch and
Pam Beech, and ministry workers Annette Forgan and Holly Connor.
We're doing it because we felt we needed to get together as a community, to
reduce the impact. It has worked in other communities, and our first goal
is to educate the public," said Kurtz, who added the group's members have
the support of their employers to spend some time during normal work hours, in
addition to the free time hours they put in.
Kurtz and Prince stressed that unlike other drugs, meth has alarmed social
workers because of the inevitable and far reaching spin off effects it has in
the community, with prostitution, violence, theft, paranoia and environmental
danger springing out of the plague-like drug.
Now, the group is looking for members from the Chamber of Commerce to represent
the business community and an education representative, and is sending a letter
to various local professional agencies asking them to join the fight.
They'd also like to get some teens and a parent who has seen meth's damage to
join the task force, and are aiming to complete workshops for the general
public, schools, pharmacists and physicians, and other community professionals,
by the end of October.
We know there are meth labs in Salmon Arm, people need to have some idea what a
lab looks like and the danger," Prince said. If they see someone
pouring sludge down the drain in the middle of the night, they need to know to
call, not just drive by and keep quiet."
Prince and Kurtz added Salmon Arm is vulnerable to meth because it is a rural
community with an element of transient population.
Anyone interested in the task force should contact us. There is lots to
do, we can't do it all with six or seven people," Kurtz added. For
information, call Tracy Prince at 832-2170.
