METH, COCAINE - LOCAL PROBLEM, LOCAL SOLUTIONS

A local problem needs local solutions.

That, says Lisa Striegler of Vanderhoof Alcohol and Drug Services
(VADS), is the thinking behind a May 2 forum targeting crack cocaine
and crystal meth use in Vanderhoof.

"We're not having people come in from the outside. It will be people
in the community who work with the people affected."

Among the groups who will be giving short presentations on how their
services are affected by drug use are VADS, the RCMP, the Omineca Safe
Home Society and Prince George Detox, where some people from here are
sent.

"We'll be talking about things like how we respond to a call,"
Striegler says. "It varies a lot. For us, it's usually someone coming
in who's looking for help to kick the habit. For the RCMP, it may be
someone who's having a bad incident."

She expects some of the groups will also talk about the troubles they
have sometimes finding the appropriate services in Vanderhoof,
especially with a recent increase in the use of crack.

"We need the support of the community," she emphasizes. "There may be
people out there with great ideas on how we can work together or come
up with new services."

After the local groups, there will be testimonials from people who
have been through drugs.

"We want them to share their story," Striegler says. "They can tell
us, 'This is what it was like for me.'

"It hits home more when you realize it's your neighbour who has been
through this, or even just someone from the same community."

After a short break, there will then be an open mic
portion.

"People will have the chance to share their own stories, ask
questions, provide comments. It will give us a chance to find out
where the community is at."

One thing there won't be much of from the presenters is direct
information about crack and crystal meth.

"We want people to talk about their experiences with the drugs. The
information will be available around the hall for anyone who wants it.
We'll also be providing sticky notes so people can leave comments with
the information if they wish. They might want to get up in public with
their comments, so this gives them a chance to do it privately."

While the primary goal of the forum at the Nechako Valley Secondary
small auditorium is getting information out to the public, Striegler
hopes there will be some public involvement later.

"One goal is to get interested people to come to our AGM later in the
month. We'll be planning a drug strategy for Vanderhoof -- where do we
want to be five years form now, what are our treatment goals."

She says that while there is crystal meth use in Vanderhoof, crack
poses a much larger problem here.

"There's been a lot of media attention paid to meth, so that may be
one of the reasons we're not seeing much of it. But a lot of people
still think of crack as a Chicago or Detroit problem.

"It's a problem right here."

Drug use of any kind, she says, isn't a problem just for the agencies
concerned. It's connected to crime and is a real social issue.

"The root causes are broad. We need to look not just at treatment, but
at prevention.

"We can keep pulling people out of the river, or we can figure a way
to build a fence so they fall in to start with."

The forum starts at 6 p.m. on May 2 at NVSS.