LPSD TACKLES NEW ANTI-DRUG STRATEGY

Final touches are being made on a city-wide drug strategy.

It's a five-pillared, seamless method of coping with -- and preventing
- -- drug use by the community's youth. It also involves a host of local
groups working in sync.

"It hasn't been done before. Period," said Michael Diachuk, director
of the Lloyd Public School Division. "The only place where you are
really effectively able to make changes is at the community level
and across Canada there are numerous communities forming these
coalitions."

That's why both school boards, the City of Lloydminster, Prairie North
Health Region, the Slim Thorpe Centre, Catholic Social Services,
Midwest Victim Services, Lloyd Sexual Assault Centre, Native
Friendship Centre, and Chamber of Commerce have decided to put their
heads together and fight a common enemy.

"When someone comes into my office and has these issues, I want to be
able to direct him or her to the appropriate agency or person in a
timely manner," said Diachuk.

Modelled after similar programs in Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, and
Vancouver, the strategy includes, paying guest speakers to visit
schools, and airing television snippets on local channels reading:
It's 10 o'clock, do you know where your children are?

The board voted last Tuesday night to dedicate $10,000 each year for
three years beginning Jan. 1. This will likely be exceeded by the
city, and other groups who will each donate what they can. Still,
funding for the drug strategy is rather slow-going and other board
members hope industry will make more of a mark.

"I don't think this will be successful unless industry is involved,"
said board member Dr. Raf Sayeed, adding they should further target
oilfield services in the ongoing grappling that occurs between
industry and donation seekers.

"The huge goal behind this ultimately is building a more positive
community," Diachuk said. "I mean, these people all around the table
have kids."

Not only do board members all have kids, they also all have primary
full-time jobs and can't dedicate the time needed to take the whole
project on their shoulders. That's why to head off this massive
initiative they are looking to hire one person on a full-time basis.

"The intent is not to create a staff of 20 people, but simply to
ensure services are readily available," said Diachuk.