CONFERENCE TO HELP 'SLAY THE DRAGON' OF DRUGS

Organizers of an anti-drug conference coming up in Black Diamond are
hoping first hand accounts of drug abuse will have a major impact on
students and residents.

The Slaying the Dragon conference will be held for the first time at
the Oilfields High School in Black Diamond on Friday, Sept. 29 and
Saturday, Sept. 30 and will include a guest appearance from the
premier's wife Colleen Klein.

"I think it's very exciting for the community," said FCSS coordinator
Lou Patterson. "We're just a small town and to be able to have the top
notch speakers we have share their stories, it provides awareness and
maybe gives hope to people in these situations."

On Friday, Sept. 29 Grade 7 to 12 students will listen to two guest
speakers who will talk about their first hand experiences with drugs.

"They're going to learn about the impact drugs have on families and
individuals and how drugs impact our lives in so many ways," Patterson
said.

David Parnell from Tennessee is the keynote speaker who will also
speak on Saturday to the public. He is 39 years old, married and has
seven children. He is a recovering methamphetamine addict and suicide
survivor. Parnell began using marijuana at the age of 13 and then
progressed to harder drugs and eventually methamphetamine.

He was addicted to meth for seven years before attempting suicide by
shooting himself under the chin with an assault rifle, literally
blowing his face apart. He was written off as deceased by the
sheriff's department due to his serious injuries.

Parnell has had over 15 surgeries and still has more to go. He's now
sober after spending 23 years on drugs and has shared his story in 13
states, Canada and England.

"I think that with David Parnell, it hits home. By seeing his face and
what he's done to himself and hearing it from the horse's mouth, (his
story) will go a long ways," Patterson said. "He's been where nobody
wants their child to go. His story is heartfelt and gives hope to
those who may already be facing the dragon of drug addiction."

The second speaker on Sept. 29 is Mike Ryan from Edmonton, who will
speak on Saturday as well. Ryan used to have a $2,000-a-day drug habit
and began robbing jewelry stores and banks to support his habit. He
was then caught and sent to prison. He went through rehab and has now
been clean for 17 years.

"Now he saves people's kids from going down that path," Patterson
said. "If any of them are doing any of these hard type drugs, maybe
they'll stop or definitely not start."

On Saturday, Sept. 30, the conference kicks off with registration and
coffee at 7:30 a.m. with welcome remarks by Const. Tom Christie of the
Turner Valley RCMP at 8:15 a.m.

Patterson said that the day's session is for moms, dads, professionals
and the general public. Participants are travelling from across
Alberta to attend. Speakers at the event include Const. Chuck
MacDonald from the Calgary RCMP drug section and his police dog Moose.
At 11:45 p.m., Colleen Klein, who is the chair of the premier's task
force on crystal meth and the honourary chair of Alberta's Promise,
will speak.

"With the task force, they've been doing a lot of work to find out
ways of tackling the growing problem of crystal meth in Alberta,"
Patterson said. "She'll be providing some insight on that."

In the afternoon, speakers include Sgt. Donna Hansen, the drug
awareness coordinator for southern Alberta, and Judy Walbridge, an
addictions counsellor with AADAC who works in High River. The final
speaker of the day will be Marvin Van Haaften who is Iowa's drug
policy coordinator and director of the office of drug control policy.

"Iowa was one of the first states that had a lot of problems with
crystal meth," Patterson said. "He tackled it and he's not afraid to
ruffle feathers. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience."

The name of the conference was drawn from the phrase "chasing the
dragon" which refers to drug addicts looking for their next fix.
Organizers decided that slaying the dragon was a fitting name for the
conference as it draws up an image of eradicating drug use.

The Black Diamond FCSS, AADAC and RCMP will present the conference
which has been in the works for about seven months. In that time, FCSS
offices in Black Diamond, Okotoks, High River as well as other
organizations have started talking about forming a Foothills Drug Coalition.

Advance registration for the event is required with a registration
deadline of Thursday, Sept. 21. To register, visit the Town of Black
Diamond office, contact Lou Patterson at 933-4348 or email
fcss@town.blackdiamond.ab.ca