CAMPAIGN BOOSTS CRYSTAL METH AWARENESS

Members of the North Shore Crystal Meth Task Force are four weeks
into a 90-day public awareness campaign supported by a diverse group
of dedicated community members.

The campaign kicked off Jan. 9 and task force members are confident
their efforts are being felt.

"We're starting to accomplish some goals," said the task force's
primary spokeswoman, Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong of the North Vancouver RCMP.

"We're finding that people are calling us for assistance because of
the publicity that we're getting," she said.

York Regional Police officers recently flew in from Ontario to learn
more about the local campaign. As well, the North Shore group has
taken calls from a department in Red Deer, Alta.

"They're impressed with how far we've come along," said Armstrong.

The creation of the task force marks a partnership between law
enforcement, social issues workers, youth, health professionals and
members of the community at large coming together to fight the use of
crystal methamphetamine on the North Shore.

The task force was formed following community meetings held in the
summer based on a model created by Maple Ridge residents, which
imposed strict timelines and a holistic community approach to attack
the problem with the drug in their community.

The North Shore task force is comprised of approximately 50 members,
divided into three subcommittees focused on education, law
enforcement, and treatment and recovery.

While actual numbers of users have been difficult to pinpoint - as
it's believed crystal methamphetamine is sometimes laced in other
drugs - those involved in the task force assert that meth addiction
does exist on the North Shore, and it's a problem.

The North Shore campaign is focused on local youth. One aspect of the
90-day public awareness campaign is the work being completed by a
five-member team of girls under 21.

The team met through their various North Shore volunteer commitments
and a shared interest in making positive change in their community.

"I've had a lot of friends as well as just acquaintances who have had
problems with drugs. So drugs in general, and this because it was
such a harsh drug, and we were able to do something about it . . . I
thought it would be a great place to start," said team member Denise
Wong, 20, who works with the North Shore Disability Resource Centre.

Wong said she likes the fact that they have been involved in the
project from its inception and will follow it through to its end
goal, an important early lesson of youth empowerment and potential.

The girls first met with doctors, police and others knowledgeable
about crystal meth to prioritize what projects they should undertake.

"Especially North Van, a lot of people think that it's not a problem
so we've got a lot of information about what's going on here," said
Wong. "We're trying to be community-focused."

Team member Aleyna Golinsky, 20, a first-year student studying
business marketing at BCIT said a lot of her peers are seemingly in
the dark about crystal meth use and its effects.

"It could be your next door neighbour, it could be anybody," she said.

As a result, the dissemination of information continues to be the
team's greatest concern.

"People won't show interest until you give them the information to
make it important, and that's the whole point of this thing," said Wong.

Team member Yudi Duque, 18, a Grade 12 student at Sutherland
secondary, said she only heard about the drug after a recent move
from Columbia to the North Shore. After learning about the harsh
effects of use on the user, his or her family and the community at
large, both socially and environmentally, she said her involvement
has made her realize the importance of valuing life.

"Life is more than this," Duque said referring to meth addiction.
"Life is full of opportunities and future. . . . This is just the
opposite of that."

The team has built community kiosks to be put on display across the
North Shore in places like schools, recreation centres, malls and the
local mountains.

The team has also been preparing informative resources in the form of
a brochure, multimedia presentations for local politicians and the
community at large, as well as a North Shore-focused crystal meth
website including information on the drug and where to go for help.

Team member Adrianna Golinsky, 18, a first-year student at Capilano
College studying arts said they plan to continue raising awareness
about the dangers of crystal meth use in some context long after the
90-day campaign wraps up based on a need for more education and
treatment for local residents.

"It's humbling, you're just like 'Wow, my pretty North Van: nice
mountains, clean air,' but there's a lot more in it," she said,
referring to what she has learned.

The fifth team member is Daniela Ugarte, 18, a first-year business
student at Simon Fraser University.

For more information about the team's initiatives or to arrange for a
kiosk to appear in a public place, e-mail the team at
crystalmethtaskforce@hotmail.com.

Besides the work of the team, there are a number of other task force
initiatives underway as part of the campaign, said Armstrong.

Members of the education subcommittee have developed a comic book and
a brochure; they plan to meet with the North Shore schools' parent
advisory committees, and are in the process of designing a "drug
proof your kids" workshop for parents as well as a program to educate
landlords on what to look for in cases of meth production in their buildings.

The law enforcement subcommittee has created a first-response
protocol for fire, police and ambulance personnel, and municipal
bylaw enforcement officers and inspectors in case a crystal meth
production-related call comes in as there are many dangers involved
in handling such a situation, Armstrong said.

The task force's judicial committee has been making recommendations
regarding law reform in the area of sentencing of users and dealers,
as well as suggestions on how police can improve their service to the
courts in this area. A meth watch group targeted 200 North Vancouver
businesses on Jan. 14 educating staff on what to look for as meth is
produced through combining items available at convenience and grocery
stores. West Vancouver businesses will soon receive this education.

The treatment and recovery subcommittee has created a
first-responders treatment team to jump into action when required,
and is continuing to advocate for more detox and treatment facilities
on the North Shore. A crystal meth anonymous group has been
established and a support group for families is in the works, said Armstrong.