THE METHOD TO OUR STORIES

If you're reading this you obviously didn't flip straight to this page
without being drawn into our front-page feature on crystal meth.

The drug-based article, which is the first in a series, is this
newspaper's attempt at raising awareness about the destructive drug.

That is also the goal of the recently formed Crystal Meth Awareness
and Prevention Project in the North Okanagan.

Because meth can affect more than a user's life and can potentially
leave a lasting impact on an entire community, we want the public to
know about it.

With educated parents, teachers and community workers, we can pass the
message of the dangers of meth to our children. We can share our
knowledge and hope that our youth will learn from other people's mistakes.

This is a pro-active approach that the project is taking to hopefully
prevent the drug from becoming the problem it has in some U.S. cities
and even the Lower Mainland.

Crystal meth may not be as evident in the North Okanagan yet, but like
any drug, it can spread rapidly through our community.

B.C. data shows that the number of people admitted to community
addiction services who report amphetamine use has increased from four
to 11 per cent between 1999 to 2003.

The B.C. Coroners service reports for 1998 to 2004 also shows that
meth-related deaths have increased every year since 2000. Of those,
the highest age group of meth-related deaths are in the 19 to 21 age
range, followed by 22 to 24 and 25 to 27.

It is a drug that is stealing the lives of our children, and if we can
help save just one, then it is all worth it.