CRYSTAL METH FORUM 'HITS A NERVE' IN CHILLIWACK

More than 700 people gave a standing ovation to crystal meth survivor
Sheena Edwards after an emotionally charged speech about the dangers
of the drug at a forum hosted by the city Tuesday.

The size of the crowd and the "overwhelming" response to Edwards'
story has convinced forum organizers they have "hit a nerve" in the
community, similar to the wave of public anger that erupted several
years ago around mail theft.

But what to actually do now, and what steps are needed to meet the
apparent community desire to fight methamphetamine abuse, will be the
topic of future public meetings.

City and Sto:lo officials will also meet next week to form a task force
aimed at prevention, education, enforcement and treatment of crystal meth
users. While the forum was the first city-wide meth initiative, Sto:lo
communities have already held two similar meetings.

City Councillor Sharon Gaetz, chair of the city's public safety
advisory committee, said part of the reason for the Tuesday forum was
to gauge public support for a fight against crystal meth.

"If we're on the same wavelength," she said after the meeting, "we've
touched a nerve in the community.

"This isn't just a clinical discussion about drugs," she added. "It's
about ripped-apart families."

Gaetz said parents of crystal meth users came to her in tears after
the meeting, asking her how they can get treatment for their children.

"When they're ready to come off (crystal meth) there doesn't seem to
be any help for them," she said. "If that's true, then we really need
to be working with the ministry of health to make things happen."

B.C. Solicitor General John Les, minister responsible for public
safety in B.C., said the Chilliwack forum was "extremely encouraging"
as the province is ready to pump an additional $7-million in funding
to help communities raise awareness of crystal meth. The funding
includes $2 million for "enhanced" treatment programs for
meth-addicted youth, $2 million for community anti-meth programs and
an education campaign to get the facts about meth use and addiction to
youth and their families.

"In Chilliwack we certainly have some pretty deep community concern
and awareness," Les said. "But I also heard several times (at the
forum) you need to focus on prevention as much as anything."

Edwards, a 30-year-old Cheam band member, told the crowd how she was
hooked on crystal meth the first time she tried it, and how it then
turned into a four-year "hell ride" that ripped her family apart.

"The first time I tried it I was addicted," she said, and although she
vowed not to do it again, during a "deep depression" she got high
again "and from then on it's probably been the worst ride of my life
. I fight it every single day of my life."

Despite a beautiful daughter, a loving husband and family, she said
that "no amount of love and effort from them could stop me ... and
where I was going was straight to hell. I went on a hell ride."

Each time she got high, it devastated her family and became a
"tornado" ripping through her life that she felt powerless to stop.

"It was tearing my family apart and there was nothing I could do to
stop it," she said, until she started counselling when she started
thinking about suicide.

"I hope we can get more money for (crystal meth) treatment," Edwards
told the crowd, "The kids out there on the street are worth something."

Along with Edwards and Les, the forum panel included keynote speaker
Angela Marshall, a therapist with the Fraser House alcohol and drug
outpatient society, Dr. Johan Wouterloot, addiction expert, school
principal Jim Skinner and two RCMP drug experts, Cpl. Scott Rintoul
and Sgt. Mike McCarthy.