OVER 100 GATHER FOR DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM

Over 100 people gathered at Lou Soppit Center January 24 for an
informative, and sometimes shocking, presentation about the reality
of Canada's drug culture including the controversial crystal meth.

The event, organized by Rocky RCMP detachment, featured three expert
speakers who had different perspectives on the drug problem in Alberta.

The first speaker, S/Sgt. Ian Sanderson, is "K" Division RCMP's Drug
Awareness Coordinator, and has over two decades of police experience.

Sanderson gave a very frank depiction of the history of crystal meth,
its link to biker gangs, how it's marketed, the approach police are
taking to the problem and many other topics.

Sanderson stated one of the most important parts of the RCMP's
approach to crystal meth is public awareness and education. He said
the RCMP wants to make lots of information about crystal meth
available, and educate people about how dangerous this drug is.

Sanderson also discussed drug endangered children. He said police and
many other groups are in favor of laws which make the exposure of
children to drug culture a form of child abuse.

Sanderson also went into detail about how crystal meth is
manufactured. He said biker gangs are traditionally linked to
methamphetamine, but the drug is so easy to make that people have
been known to set up drug labs themselves.

In fact, he said some crystal meth addicts fall so low, they have to
start manufacturing it themselves to feed their addiction.

"This is where they will go out and collect (crystal meth
ingredients) right at their local convenience store," said Sanderson
to the crowd of about 130 people.

Sanderson also gave a slide show which included some shocking photos
of experiences police have had with crystal meth south of the border.

The next speaker was Audrey Bjornstad, cofounder of Parents
Empowering Parents Society, a non-profit registered charity dedicated
to offering information and support to families dealing with drug
addicted loved ones.

Bjornstad, who described herself as a suburban mom from Sherwood
Park, spoke from first-hand experience, as her son Tyler is living
with drug addiction.

Bjornstad said she embraces the chance to speak with groups about
crystal meth and other drug addictions because it seems there is a
stigma attached to addiction and that addiction cuts across all social classes.

"This can happen to anyone," she said. "If you're low income, high
income, black or white or brown, this happens all across our society."

Bjornstad showed pictures of her son Tyler at birth, and as he grew
into a young man. She said everything in their home was about as
normal as anywhere in Alberta. Then in 2003, things started to change
as Tyler entered high school.

"He hit Grade 10, and we thought he was healthy and happy," said
Bjornstad. Tyler was caught skipping school and smoking marijuana,
but with counseling, school intervention and curfews, Bjornstad said
her family thought the problem had been nipped in the bud. That
wasn't the case, as Tyler's drug addiction gained momentum at a startling pace.

"At the end of the summer, things really started falling apart," said
Bjornstad. It wasn't long before Tyler went missing for several days
and was later found by police living at a crystal meth house in Sherwood Park.

Bjornstad said she and her family were shocked when police told them
Tyler was a crystal meth addict, and probably had been one for about
two months. She said her family had noticed changes in Tyler's
behavior and appearance, but hadn't thought anything of it. "He had
lost close to 40 pounds," she said, and had become aggressive,
combative, was stealing from his family members to support his
addiction and drug dealers were now coming to the Bjornstad's suburban home.

"We had no idea what we were dealing with. From my background in
medicine, I knew in my heart that more was happening inside his head.

"Even if we got him off this drug, we would never have the same child
again," said Bjornstad.

Bjornstad said she and her husband knew they couldn't handle Tyler,
and gave him an ultimatum: kick your habit or get out. He chose to
leave but even at this point Tyler refused to admit to his parents
that he was a crystal meth addict.

As Tyler lived on the street, Bjornstad said the family went through
feelings of shame and guilt for having a meth addict in their family
and constant fear and worry for Tyler's safety. "I honestly thought
Tyler would die," she said.

However, after seven months Bjornstad said her son entered treatment
and spent almost nine months fighting his crystal meth addiction. To
this day, she said, Tyler is fighting his addiction despite relapsing
several times on other drugs. "He's now two years clean from meth,"
she said. "We're happy that he is still alive, and that he is trying
to get his life together.

"It was the most humbling experience in my life to find out what
addiction is. Once the child is addicted, they are no longer in
control. They are now a slave to a drug," she said.

After discovering the many pitfalls of helping a family member with
addiction and how little support is actually out there, Bjornstad and
several other people founded PEPS in May 2004 to offer information
and support. She said the group wanted to know if there was a need.

At their very first meeting over 30 people turned up, and PEPS has
since become a fully registered charity and society. "We are a voice
for families and addicts," she added.

The third speaker was University of Alberta Dept. of Psychiatry Prof.
William Tatton, who gave a detailed description of how drugs like
crystal meth affect the brain.

Rocky RCMP Cpl. Alex Courtorielle, one of the main organizers of the
event, said he was happy with the event. "I was very pleased," said
Courtorielle January 25.

Courtorielle noted the group of speakers also spent several hours
January 24 at Sunchild School. "I really felt the message got across," he said.

Courtorielle said the RCMP got a lot of local help organizing the
event, and noted the event probably couldn't have been held with
donations from the Town of Rocky Mountain House, Tim Hortons and Best
Western Hotel.

He noted the Rocky RCMP detachment realizes drug awareness is a
community issue, not just a police issue.

"Our goal is to bring further drug awareness to the community," added
Courtorielle. "I'm hoping we brought that awareness to the community."