BOOZE, GRASS STILL DRUGS OF CHOICE FOR AREA YOUTH

Crystal meth may not be the drug of choice for Olds youth but it
certainly is on the radar of the wellness workers and counsellors in
the community who are working at preventing crystal meth abuse.

Local psychologists, wellness workers and substance abuse counsellors
say that marijuana and alchohol are still the drugs of choice in our
area, but heavier drugs like crack and cocaine are available.

George Macleod, substance abuse worker for Chinook's Edge School
Division said when he was recruited three years ago he implemented
programs for students, parents, teachers and wellness workers in
regards to meth abuse.

"I think we need to focus and educate on meth use," said Macleod.
"But not at the expense of other drugs or alcohol."

Macleod said that in the three years he has been with the school
division, he has only dealt with three incidents involving the drug.

"The majority of kids who get into trouble with drugs here, it's
still marijuana and alcohol," said Macleod.

Macleod said the programming he implemented to deal with meth is
realistic, honest and deals with both the benefits and consequences
of using the drug.

"What I try to do is be real and honest with the kids," said Macleod.
"Yes meth will make you feel better, yes it will do something to you,
but there are consequences ... I think that when you are open and
honest with the kids about the fact that drugs have benefits, then
they become more open to hearing about the harms and downsides."

Macleod said that one of the issues he faces in thearea, is rural
parents throwing parties with alcohol provided to minors.

"I talked to a young kid, say 12, who says his dad gives him one
beer. What I told the kid is my concern is if you're 12 years old and
you are having a beer, where are you going to be at 17?" said Macleod.

Macleod said that drugs and alcohol give teenagers a false sense of
well-being and the substances are used to fill gaps in self-concept.

Dr. Russ Guthrie, psychologist and counsellor at Olds College agrees
that students use and abuse substances to compensate for other shortcomings.

Guthrie says there is a direct correlation between drug and alcohol
abuse and mental health.

"Meth is no different than what people use alcohol for," said
Guthrie. "People tend to take these things up for various reasons ...
to cover up inadequacies and deficiencies in personality."

Guthrie says the college has the services to address many issues,
including crystal meth abuse.

"We look at crystal meth as another issue that this college does
provide support services for students to deal with," said Guthrie.

Guthrie attended a symposium recently held by the David Thompson
Health Region in Hanna to address crystal meth addiction.

He said the stories about meth abuse are alarming, and that there
were reformed addicts at the symposium that started abusing meth as
early as grade seven.

The concern for Guthrie, like Macleod is more surrounding alcohol
abuse on campus rather than meth abuse.

"Alcohol is the drug of choice on this campus and it outweighs any
issue with respect to other types of drugs," said Guthrie. "But we
are a microcosm of society as a whole so my belief is that it could be here."

In the wake of the Premier's task force on crystal meth and the 83
recommendations made, Macleod says he feels that Chinook's Edge
School Division has already implemented some of the recommendations.

"As a school division we are ahead of the game ... the majority of
the recommendations for schools, we have already addressed," said Macleod.

Tracy Laut, wellness worker at Deer Meadow School said she has a lot
of anti-drug programming going on at the middle school level.

"All three schools in Olds have wellness workers to do preventative
programming," said Laut. "There is a variety of anti-smoking,
anti-drinking, and anti-drug programs that are given preventatively
throughout the year."