PREVENTION IS KEY TO BATTLING DRUGS

The key to solving any problem is understanding it.

With that in mind the local RCMP detachment arranged a crystal meth
information session in Merritt last week. Judging by the packed room
of more than 50 people, this is an issue of great concern.

"We are thrilled with the turn out," explained Cpl. Andrew Burton, the
officer who organized the meeting. "It shows a lot of interest and is
a really good start to tackling this issue."

Two speakers were on the agenda for the seminar. The first was Const.
Dean Gladue, from the RCMP's Drug Awareness Service, and the second
was Jim Laidlaw, the adolescent addictions outreach worker from the
Phoenix Centre in Kamloops.

Gladue started by pointing out that the key to dealing with drug
issues in a community is to approach it from a three tier model that
includes prevention, treatment and enforcement. The most important of
these, he stressed, is prevention.

"It must be first and foremost, but Canada fails here," he said. "It
is important to get into schools because kids need to know about their
own safety."

He said although the RCMP come from enforcement they realize how
important the other two tiers are in society.

"The RCMP can only do so much," he said. "Enforcement can't work
alone."

That is one reason he said it is up to the communities to take on this
issue.

"The reality is drugs are in our community," he said. "Can we
eliminate them? Probably not, but we can prevent it from getting worse."

Gladue said crystal meth is highly addictive, easy to make and
relatively cheap -- two factors that often make it a real threat to
small communities. In order for a community to survive such a threat
they must be prepared and remain educated on the issue.

"Drug use and abuse is always an issue," he said. "With our head in
the sand it will only get worse. Knowledge is power."

He stressed the key is to offer youth understanding so they will make
healthy choices.

Laidlaw agrees that prevention is the key to beating this problem, and
he believes the best way to address this issue is by targeting youth.
"In the general population there is an extremely low risk, but in kids
that risk is very high," he explained.

He said that is an indication that prevention programs must target
that age group. He stressed it is also important to lead by example
and that the whole community must be involved.

"The number one preventative tool you can offer a kid is a single
healthy relationship with an adult in their life," he said.

He added that the community is the prime motor driving
prevention.

Burton acknowledged that this topic is immense and deserves more
attention. He hopes to offer another workshop that is open to the
public early in 2006. If you would like to hear more about crystal
meth and the programs available to fight addiction, contact Laidlaw at
the Phoenix Centre or check out http://www.rcmpda.com.