STUDENT FIGHTS FOR DRUG PROGRAM

The struggle to save the position of drug and alcohol prevention
worker at David Thompson Secondary School (DTSS) continued recently in
Kelowna as former DTSS student Tonie Minhas had the chance to talk at
a meeting for Interior Health.

Minhas was not sure if she was going to have her say at the meeting
but was hopeful she would be heard.

Upon arriving at the meeting Minhas was met by local representative
David Goldsmith who sits on the board of Interior Health. He informed
Minhas that after a special meeting the night before the board decided
to hear what she had to say.

"I spoke for about 10 minutes and had information packets for the
board. We talked to them about the cost of the program versus the cost
of substance abuse. We narrowed it down to the hospital expense
involved," Minhas said.

She was also given the chance to talk to the chairperson of the board,
Norman Embree, after her presentation.

The agreement was made to have a meeting between all interested
parties at some point in the future in Invermere about why the
position was removed from DTSS.

Overall, Minhas was happy with the experience, though she is trying to
be realistic about the ultimate goal of saving the way the program has
been run at the school.

"It was important to tell the board how much the program does and how
important it was for the school. I am hoping they are going to realize
that it is an important program and that they will reinstate it,"
Minhas said.

One of the key issues with the continuation of the current program is
a lack of funds available and Minhas knew that was going to be an
issue before going to Kelowna.

Minhas was aided by Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald and
Adrian Dix MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway and critic for health services.