REACHING YOUTHS IS PRIMARY GOAL

A $10,000 grant for Hope, aimed at crushing the cycle of crystal meth
addiction, has the Crystal Meth Task Force, focusing on reaching the
youth and educating parents.

The Crystal Meth Task Force, a subcommittee of Hope Healthy
Communities, is kicking off a local poster campaign this fall,
bringing "attention to the horrors of crystal meth," said committee
spokesman Peter Bailey.

The posters will be dramatic and hard hitting but not shocking.

The committee has also re-developed their logo. The new "Stop Crystal
Meth' logo is based on a design from a local youth. T-shirts have
also been developed to get the message out to youth.

In September, the committee is also sponsoring the Brigade Days
street dance at the Sixth Avenue Park - in an effort to encourage
community involvement and healthy activity over the use of drugs, added Bailey.

Previous efforts of the committee in their battle against Crystal
Meth addiction include sponsoring medical expert and author Mate
Gabor to come to speak on addiction, and sponsoring a presentation by
local RCMP officer Kurt Bosnell on what crystal meth is and how it
affects you. In conjunction with the Hope Chamber of

Commerce, the committee has also engaged business in the fight
against crystal meth through the new Meth Watch program. Many of the
committee's initiatives are being looked at as roll models for other
communities around the province.