LIVE METH CALL-IN SHOW PLANNED

SASKATOON -- Known on the street by various names like gak, ice or
tweak, crystal methamphetamine is a problem for many people in
Saskatchewan.

Residents throughout the province will have a chance on Sunday to hear
about and discuss issues surrounding the drug.

Shaw Cable in Saskatoon is spearheading Toxic Speed, a one-hour, live,
open-line, program. It will be carried live by both radio and
television media outlets throughout Saskatchewan and airs Sunday
beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The show will be broadcast by media outlets throughout the province in
both large and small centres including Saskatoon, Regina, North
Battleford, Prince Albert, Yorkton, Meadow Lake, and Melfort. Some
outlets which will broadcast the show include CTV, RAWLCO Radio,
Regina CJME and Regina's Access Communications.

According to Families Against Meth, crystal methamphetamine can affect
all socio-economic groups, can result in death, and can become a
chronic mind wasting disease that devastates particularly the young.

"We're really interested first of all in just raising awareness about
the issue of crystal meth and really looking at how it is affecting
young people and families and communities," said Alex Park,
vice-president of programming for Shaw Cable.

"We're hoping that out of the program, there will be enough really
good dialogue that takes place where some action plans and processes
can be put in place that really look at this issue more effectively in
the community."

The show will air once, but Shaw Cable will look at repeating it, Park
said.

The program will be hosted and moderated by former Saskatoon
broadcaster keith Morrison who's now working as a journalist for NBC
News in Los Angeles.

"It says a lot about how important this issue is that someone like
Keith would say, 'you know what, I'm in. I'll come and do this for the
community.' It's a very supportive thing for him to do," Park said.

The show hopes to reach a diverse audience from young people and
parents to the health services and policing communities. There will be
an opportunity for young people to call up and express their views.

"There's been a growing awareness at the community level that this
issue is becoming quite serious. And also, there's a sense too that
certainly in some smaller and rural communities that, indeed, this is
developing as a social issue," Park said.

"The fact that the broadcast community has really come together to
produce this and to broadcast it and carry it is really encouraging."