DRUG COMMITTEE STAYS BUSY

Crystal Meth Talk Will Be Good For Parents

The Anti-Drug and Alcohol Abuse Committee has confirmed its May 22
presentation on the deadly and devastating drug Crystal Meth.

On May 10, the committee got together to review an earlier
presentation directed toward Keremeos retailers and Citizens on Patrol.

"We know the people who attend are not users of Crystal Meth," said
committee member Andrea Massing, "but retailers should be aware of
the products that can be used to make Crystal Meth."

The meeting featured a lecture by Corporal Cristine Makepeace on how
retailers can handle dubious sales in connection with the drug.

"We are a community and we all have an effect on kids," said
Makepeace. "I don't know if we can scare kids into not doing drugs,
but we can do prevention, in homes and in the community."

The next presention will be held May 22 at 7 p.m. in the Hedley
Community Centre. It is open to the public and organizers are
expecting a lot of parents to show up with the question "what can we
do to protect our community?"

The Hedley meeting will feature a powerpoint presentation from Tim Roberts.

In addition, the committee is pleased to confirm a virtual drop-in
centre. Four computers, donated by the Valley First Credit Union,
will serve the community.

"Not everyone in Keremeos can go to the school councillor when they
have a question and we don't have the place for a village drop-in
centre," said Roberts. "The computers will be a virtual drop-in
centre when people can go and research different issues around town."

The computers would be semi-private but in convenient locations. The
Anti-Drug Committee is hoping locations such as the library and
health centre will welcome the computers.

The virtual drop-in centres and anti-drug campaigns attempt to help
citizens deal with a variety of problems.