PEP PLEASED WITH REPORT ON CRYSTAL METH

Organization Hopes Implementation Will Be the Province's Next
Step

Parent's Empowering Parents (PEP), a Strathcona organization which is
battling against drug use among youth, says the recommendations by
the Premier's Task Force on Crystal Meth are exactly what is needed.

"We are very impressed with the results," said Audrey Bjornstad, one
of the founding members of the group. "They've addressed treatment,
law enforcement and prevention -- all the things we are really
pushing for. I can't think of anything they missed."

Bjornstad says her organization participated in a focus group set up
by the task force, and all of the issues that were raised were
addressed in recommendations.

The task force, led by Colleen Klein, released 83 recommendations on
how the province, and the federal government, can help the fight
against crystal meth use.

One of the recommendations that Bjornstad was very happy to see was
the introduction of drug courts to other communities. She says it
would be very helpful in breaking the cycle that drug addicts go through.

She says addicts are often convicted of crimes they do while on
drugs. Drug courts would take those cases out of the main court
system and deal with them so that the addict can get the help he or she needs.

Edmonton has been running a drug court on a pilot project basis, but
Bjornstad says she would like to see them permanently set up across the nation.

Last weekend, PEP presented at the National Drug Court Conference,
which took place in Edmonton.

She also says she was also pleased to see a recommendation for the
Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) to start working
collaboratively with the mental health department.

"About 50 per cent of the cases we see are 'dual diagnosis' where the
addicts are also mentally ill," she said.

But although Bjornstad is very positive about the recommendations she
says she knows they are still only proposals.

"My concern now is the follow through. Will this come into fruition
or will it just become a piece of paper and that's it?"

One of the biggest setbacks would be the funding required to bring
the recommendations to life.

"There are probably $17-million worth of changes. Some are federal so
we will have to push them as well," she said.

Bjornstad says she will be asking all the Progressive Conservative
leadership candidates how they will proceed with the recommendations.

She says PEP will continue to lobby the provincial government,
regardless of who the leader will be.

But as if PEP won't be busy enough, they are also expanding into Edmonton.

Currently the group holds meetings in Sherwood Park, Parkland County
and Red Deer. But now, the organization is setting up in Mill Woods
to help the youth in that community. Bjornstad said the Edmonton
Police Service has requested four new chapters in the city, and
Bjornstad believes that in time, they will be able to grow to that size.

The group is holding meetings every second Tuesday at 7 p.m. at
County Hall in Sherwood Park. The next meeting is Oct. 24.