METH TASK FORCE, VIHA, SIGN ON

Oceanside's Community Crystal Meth Task Force has signed onto an
important protocol agreement with the Vancouver Island Health
Authority and other Island meth task forces.

"This is a huge day," says OCCMTF chair Kevin Wilson.

"It's bringing the whole Vancouver Island community together to solve
the issues hinging around crystal meth in particular, but addictions
as well."

The agreement, signed by VIHA staff as well as Oceanside, Nanaimo and
Victoria task forces and Crystal Meth BC representatives, states that
they will all work with VIHA to develop a treatment strategy that will
also include other agencies.

It also states that they will work together to improve existing
services, leverage additional community resources, and VIHA will
consult with the task forces on deployment of targeted crystal meth
funding.

"It means we will be working together -- it means any money targeted
for crystal meth, they will certainly be at the table on how it's
allocated," says Jennifer English, executive director for continuing
health services for VIHA.

Wilson says the partnership will lend more validity to the information
they release, because it will have gone through VIHA approval first.
It's also a case of strength in numbers, he adds.

"I think it really gives us some real credibility that we're not all
working as small groups," says Wilson.

That's important as well for VIHA, adds English.

"Then we get a standard care delivery -- it stops re-inventing the
wheel," she says about bringing all of the groups together.

The partnership so far has been positive one, agrees both sides -- one
that should only get stronger now that its been made official.

"It's been really good working with the task forces to have a standard
and VIHA strategy for crystal meth. It's bringing us all together
under one roof to work with people with crystal meth issues, and
prevention," says English.