TASK FORCE LED WAY TO KEEP MENACING DRUG OUT OF NANAIMO

The push to keep crystal meth out of Nanaimo started more than a year ago.

RCMP members sounded the alarm before crime and homelessness,
witnessed in the Lower Mainland, started spilling over to the Island,
driven by crystal meth addiction.

Nanaimo Mayor Gary Korpan appointed Mike Hunter, the former Liberal
MLA, to head up a task force and hundreds turned out for a town
hall-style meeting in mid-September.

Organizers found that while crystal meth hasn't yet gained a major
foothold in Nanaimo, the community lacks key resources to treat meth
addiction when it hits or to cope with other hard drugs.

The task force grew from that first meeting. Some agreed to volunteer
to sit on the committee, which met regularly throughout fall and
winter. They reached several conclusions.

"One was the need for more treatment and second was a concern for
more information in schools," Hunter said.

"And I think as a side issue there's general concern about drugs and
crime downtown. Hopefully we can address all three of those issues."

The task force sent a strong message to the Vancouver Island Health
Authority: more drug treatment beds are needed. That helped convince
VIHA to allocate more funding.

"The question being asked is when will those beds be there and I
don't know the definitive answer -- that's in the hands of VIHA," Hunter said.

An education committee developed an education program that will be
given to all Grade 6 to 12 students this month.

"And each Wednesday evening we'll have community forums at high
schools for parents," said Jack Doan, education committee member.

Others spearheaded a Meth Watch program, so alert retailers can watch
for suspicious purchases of chemicals used to make crystal meth.

The task force will soon disband, as community groups take over the
roles set out by the group.

"I think we are disappearing leaving behind a product and services
that will be beneficial to the community," Hunter said. "I think
those who will take it over are better equipped to do it."