KEEPING PACE WITH DRUG ABUSE

Education and awareness are the key measures in protecting First
Nations communities against the use of crystal methamphetamines
(crystal meth) says Jasmine Aisaican.

Aisaican, who is with the Cowessess First Nation Urban Office, was
instrumental in organizing a two-day prevention, awareness and
community education (PACE) workshop aimed at training community
members to take a proactive role in nipping the problem in the bud.

"We want people to know there is a growing problem of drug addiction
out there and we need to be aware of the issues and to be proactive
when it comes to educating our members and preventing the problem
from taking root in our communities," Aisaican said on Tuesday.

As part of the training session Michele Rowe, a specialist trainer in
the PACE program at the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology,
provided band members with the skills to identify the physical and
psychological signs of someone addicted to crystal meth, to detect
clandestine meth labs in their community and to help the First Nation
address addiction issues.