METH TASK FORCE SET TO EDUCATE PUBLIC

Golden's newly formed meth-amphetamine task force had its first
meeting last Wednesday, focusing on how best to educate the community
in order to nip a full-blown influx of the highly destructive drug in
the bud.

"There's a lot of misconception out there," says co-ordinator Kathy
Collins. "Many people don't think crystal meth is here yet, which is
false, based on what we've heard. It's not necessarily the main drug
of choice, but it's here."

Collins says that while meth may not be sold outright on the streets,
she has heard from local teens that it's being mixed with other drugs
- - laced in marijuana, for example - to make them more addictive.
"People could be exposed to meth and not even know it," she says.

RCMP Sergeant Marko Shehovac briefly spoke to attendees about
enforcement. There are no meth labs in Golden that the police are
aware of, he said, and he believes the drug is being mainly imported
from out of town.

Given Golden's location on the Trans-Canada Highway, however, the RCMP
anticipates an increase in trafficking.

At the outset, the task force sees prevention through education as the
most viable approach to stopping meth in its tracks.

Possibilities here include the involvement of the Parent Advisory
Council and the school board in campaigns to help teens recognize the
threats posed by meth, in addition to outreach programs that might
focus on building relationships with youth and engage them in the
education process.

The task force is currently distributing a survey around Golden to
examine the community's knowledge of meth. Collins hopes to have
approximately 375 completed by the end of May, generating strong
public interest ahead of the first public meeting in June.