CRYSTAL METH FORUM TONIGHT

The community public forum on the drug crystal meth amphetamine takes
place tonight, February 2, at the Elks Hall from 7-9:30 p.m.

The evening will include a questions and answer session with guest
speakers who are specialists in the field of drug abuse prevention,
treatment, and enforcement.

Keynote speaker Keith Pattinson has played a key role in the
introduction of a wide range of innovative services and approaches
benefitting children, youth and their families throughout Canada for
the past 40 years.

He has pioneered the introduction of the Search Institute's asset
approach in Canada since 1998. A master storyteller he has delivered
over 400 keynote addresses and workshops focusing on positive youth
development.

His message offers hope, encouragement and practical ideas for those
young and old who wish to become increasingly significant influences
in the lives of young people.

Speaker Bob Huges is a drug treatment counsellor with the Phoenix
Centre in Kamloops.

He is also founder of the MethKickers treatment program. delivered
from the Phoenix Centre and has become widely known as a pioneer in
addiction treatment for crystal meth amphetamine.

Huges will give a presentation on harm reduction providing answers to
common misconceptions and concerns.

Speaker Cst. Paul Collister is the drug education officer for the
northern region of the RCMP.

Collister is based in Prince George providing drug education
programming throughout the region and providing support and training
to RCMP members.

He is one of 20 drug education officers throughout British Columbia.
Collister's presentation will provide an overview of the
pervasiveness of crystal meth amphetamine and its effect on the
social fabric of communities as well as its toll on enforcement
resources and community social health.

The Thursday evening public forum will be followed by workshop on
Friday, February 3 at the Elks Hall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those who wish to participated in the workshop are asked to call
David Sheach at the Boys and Girls Club at 392-5730 or Roseanna
McGregor at the Cariboo Friendship Centre at 398-6831 to register.

The Friday workshop will include the Thursday evening speakers plus
additional speakers.

A community planning session on harm reduction, prevention, treatment
and enforcement will also be held in the afternoon. Outcomes of these
discussions will be collated, circulated, and shared with local
governments for use in framing next steps in planning on how to deal
with the problem.

The forum on crystal meth amphetamine has been coordinated by an ad
hoc committee of community social service agencies and government
health and social service employees, and donations from the Daybreak
Rotary and the Elks, as well as a financial contribution from the
City of Williams Lake.