FIGHTING METH IN STY:LES

Even though most of the money for the new drop-in centre on Sto:lo
Nation lands came from a provincial crystal meth response grant, you
wouldn't know the centre has anything to do with the ubiquitous drug
from those who work there.

But that's the point.

"They don't come here so we can lecture them on not doing drugs or
alcohol," says Breanna Thomsen, project leader for crystal meth
outreach for Sto:lo Nation. "This is a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere."

The Sty:les drop-in centre on Vedder Road was created with a
Community Crystal Methamphetamine Response grant of $20,000 from the
provincial government. Over 160 organizations across the province
received crystal meth response grants announced in July.

The money pays for three summertime positions including Thomsen with
help from Sto:lo Nation to top up wages. Sty:les is a drop-in centre
for on-and off-reserve kids that self-identify as First Nations. The
staff also do outreach work into the community one day a week.

And while the centre is a place for kids to hang out with very little
pressure the staff have already had to do an intervention, according
to Thomsen. A 13-year-old boy who was addicted to ecstasy or meth came
in to the centre while high.

"He has been clean every since he came in here," she said. "We feel
like we helped him. The centre gives them something to do or they
might go the 'other way.'"

The grant money along with support from Sto:lo Nation and others in
the community allowed them to hire Thomsen who is going into her last
semester studying psychology at UCFV. They also hired two secondary
students as peer counsellors; Antonia Victor and Shannon Campbell,
both of whom are 18 years old.

Thomsen says that another important person involved in the program is
youth prevention leader Brenda Wallace.

Having the teenage peer counsellors on board truly makes the drop-in
centre not just a place for youth, but also created by youth. For
example, the Sty:les sign on the double-wide drop-in centre was
painted in a brightly coloured graffiti style.

"This is not a centre designed by adults and used by kids," Thomsen
explains. "[Adults] don't really know what the youth want. Shannon and
Antonia have been in on the planning so its been helpful to contribute
what they would like."

The drop-in centre isn't fancy, but it serves its purpose. There is a
pool table donated by a Sto:lo Nation staff person. They have a
television, VCR and furniture that was donated by the Salvation Army
who also contributed a coffee maker and other items to get them started.

"The community has been so supportive," Thomsen said.

The centre also has a shuffleboard table, a crafting room, on Fridays
they have pizza and watch movies and outside they play badminton and
volleyball. There is even a quiet room with nothing but a sofa and a
few chairs so kids can get away from the noise or get away to speak
one on one with friends or the peer counsellors.

"It's exciting. It's fun," Thomsen said. "The kids have fun. We all
have fun."

News of the centre has been spread mostly by word of mouth and they
are seeing more and more kids drop in along with a core group of regulars.

One of those regulars is a shy 12-year-old named Trisha Williams.
Thomsen says that many kids her age are "going the other way" and
experimenting with drugs. But for Williams her reasons for attending
the centre are as simple as things often are for kids her age.

"It's better than being at home," she said.

Crystal meth is a huge problem across the province and particularly
among the 12- to 18-year-olds for which this centre is designed.

Another young boy by the name of Melvin was shooting pool at the
centre and said he feels the centre is good place to hang out. And
what would he have been doing if he wasn't there?

"I would have been at home being bored," he said.

One problem the centre is having is transportation for the kids.
Parents and families are helping out but some kids are walking long
distances just to get there. Another huge problem that will likely
come up is money. The centre is funded mostly with this one-time grant
money, but when that runs out, Thomsen says they will appeal to the
various First Nation communities where these kids come from to keep it
going.

For now, Thomsen says the program has more than enough money to keep
going into the fall, but how the centre will operate when kids are in
school isn't totally clear yet.

"Not sure how that will work," she said. "We're still just taking it
as it comes."