INTEREST HIGH FOR DRUG MEETING

Public interest is growing for Thursday night's crystal meth
information meeting at the Castlegar & District Community Complex.

Coun. Deb McIntosh urges everyone to show up for the two-hour
meeting, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Selkirk Room.

While she and facilitators, Jim Fenning of Mental Health and
Addiction Services and Castlegar RCMP Staff Sgt. Dave Fayle, say the
highly addictive drug doesn't have much of a presence in the
community now, they agree it's important for the parents, youth and
the general public get information on it and other drugs.

"Public interest is very high," McIntosh says. "We have good speakers
lined up, representing the people who deal with drug-abuse problems
on a day-to-day basis.

"They will have some good information to give out and will be able to
answer a lot of questions."

She adds the facilitators will likely talk about other drugs that are
available in the region and how to deal with them.

Fenning, MHAS team leader, specializes in addictions and says he
knows there's a substance abuse issue in Castlegar.

Crystal meth is not an issue his office deals with very much, he
says, adding that doesn't mean it's not a problem in the community.

"It's really not on the radar here. We have other pockets showing up
. in Trail and Grand Forks we're working with in the adult population
[19 years and older]."

Fenning says he will talk about the patterns of substance abuse he
sees occurring.

"We definitely deal with cocaine issues in this office. There's a
cocaine problem in Castlegar from my understanding of the clients I'm
working with."

He says the connection to crystal meth is the crossover from other drugs.

"Where there's indiscriminate drug use, they'll use whatever is
available. If they run out of cocaine and crystal meth is available,
there's a natural affinity to using a similar substance."

Staff Sgt. Fayle says the RCMP will be participating as a resource to
answer questions that may arise from the public.

While he cannot attend the full meeting, Cpl. Jim Anderson will be
there for the two-hour session, and he has been researching drug
issues in the region.

However, Fayle says having an information meeting is a great idea.

"There's a lot of fear surrounding the crystal meth phenomenon, so
anything that gets true information out there to alleviate the fear
or make people more aware of what the problem is and how it's
impacting our community is great idea."

He adds police haven't seen an influx of crystal meth in the community.

Fayle believes there is a very small portion of Castlegar youth
involved with heavy use of drugs.

"It's really quite low; maybe 20 individuals ... and as a risk group,
you have an even smaller portion get into the realm of meth."

He acknowledges the fear is crystal meth is a huge problem in the
schools "when it really isn't as yet."

He agrees the community has to be alert and aware, but notes the RCMP
haven't had any indication crystal meth has been the substance that's
been involved.

"Cocaine, crack and alcohol still seem to be the substances of choice."

However, police did bust a "small" meth lab in Salmo.

"So, that's why I think it's important to get the information out
there so people realize that just because it isn't a problem yet, it
doesn't mean it's not going to be.

McIntosh urges Castlegar residents to bring their questions and their
children to the Sept. 21 information meeting.