METH FORUM GOES THROUGH SCHOOLS - AGAIN

Mark McLaughlin speaks with the voice of experience when he says
parents need to be educated about crystal meth and the path it weaves
in the work place, in schools and in society.

"Parents need to know that there is no safe level of consumption for
crystal meth. Just like their is no safe level of jumping out of an
airplane," said McLaughlin.

"Crystal meth works very rapidly to wipe the 'fore-brain' from your
mind, making grown-up conversations impossible to follow. Meth is not
like any other drugs. It's in a category strictly of its own."

McLaughlin and his wife are the founders of the Crystal Meth Society
of BC. Two years ago they were desperately searching for answers. They
found more parents like themselves in Victoria and when they all got
together to 'do something' they formed a B.C. Society. Their
organization encourages enforcement efforts, promotes treatment and
teaches students and parents about combatting crystal meth through
education.

And, it is in the role of education that sent Mark McLaughlin around
the province talking to school children and showing videos like "Death
by Jib" and others from his library. His four-day tour began in
Vanderhoof and hit School District 91 schools all the way through to
Granisle. He toured through the Central Interior last year and is back
by request. He is able to tailor the presentation by grade and age
appropriateness.

"The presentation targets the students from Grade 6 to Grade 12.
Following the forty minute show, students are encouraged to ask
questions, and there are always lots of questions," he said from the
road at Grassy Plains School. "They ask questions like: How can I help
a friend who is using it? What can I do if a family member is using
it? Will you die from it? Can you really get hooked the first time you
use it? "And," says McLaughlin, "I speak to them about 11-year-old
meth addicts, and how 24 per cent of the kids know of someone who is
using it."

Meth users are driven by meth. Their brain answers to no one and
nothing else but more meth. The surveys show that only eight per cent
of students had used the drug and further says that only four per cent
have had repeated use. "The reason those numbers are so low," says
McLaughlin, "Is that kids who are hooked can no longer function in the
school environment. They can't go to school any more, they've dropped
out."

There are about a dozen youth in the recovery program in Victoria.
They have cut down their meth use and are trying to integrate back
into society. "Some have found jobs," says McLaughlin,"But, recovery
is time consuming - it can take up to a couple of years and constant
vigilance to keep them on track. "The deal is so not worth it."

McLaughlin is interested in getting others in the area involved in the
delivery of his program. He's trying to deliver a 'Train the Trainer"
program, so local volunteers could make presentations to work places
and other environments where the education is much needed.