SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR OPPOSED TO CRYSTAL METH PLAN

MAPLE RIDGE - While the head of the Maple Ridge body responsible for
fighting crystal meth lauds the province's $3-million crystal meth
education committee, the school board chair condemns it.

Mary Robson, who heads the crystal meth initiative, said she's
"really excited" about it and is eager to "get it into our schools."

However, the $3 million, says Cheryl Ashlie, could have been put to
better use had the province given it directly to school boards rather
than targeting it to such a narrow focus.

The biggest substance abuse problem in schools, she maintains, is
alcohol, and focusing the funds on one drug, she said, isn't effective.

The program is part of the $7 million investment Premier Gordon
Campbell made during last year's Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting.

The school-based program and public education campaign includes
classroom lessons and resources to help youth make healthy choices.

According to recent studies of provincial secondary schools, about
five per cent of students in Grades 7-12 may have used
methamphetamine, and most first-time crystal meth use begins in Grades 9 or 10.

The education ministry, said Ashlie, "needs to listen to the
trustees. If that money's available, we want those dollars put into
the base, per-pupil funding so we can work on our strategy."