CRYSTAL METH: CASTLEGAR CITIZENS NEED TO KNOW BARE FACTS

Coun. Deb McIntosh urges parents, guardians and youth to attend a
crystal meth public information meeting slated for the Castlegar &
District Recreation Centre on Sept. 21.

The meeting in the Selkirk Room goes from 6 to 8 p.m., and will be
facilitated by Jim Fenning, of Mental Health and Addiction Services,
and RCMP Staff Sgt. Dave Fayle.

McIntosh says she and other members of city council have been asked
questions about crystal meth and whether the drug has shown up in
Castlegar. Because they didn't have the answers, McIntosh thought it
would be a good idea to hold a public forum.

There hasn't been any indication there is a meth presence in
Castlegar, she says, adding "let's get informed, so we know how to
deal with it when it starts coming in."

McIntosh says the facilitators will likely talk about other drugs that
are available in the region and how do deal with them.

Noting the school district has programs addressing drug issues,
McIntosh says this forum is aimed more at the general public so the
message gets out to everyone.

"How do you identify somebody that's using or what are the precursors
that say somebody might be -- a family member, a grandchild, an aunt
or uncle or a mom or dad?"

McIntosh says it's important to let the public know who the "people in
the know" are so they can talk to them and seek advice.

She adds it's also important to dispel myths about who is using
drugs.

"It's not a gender thing; it's not a socioeconomic thing; and it's not
a young thing. Drugs affect everybody and it's something everybody has
the capacity to use."

Noting there will be a question-and-answer session during the forum,
McIntosh urges people to bring their questions and bring their children.