HINTON DRUG EFFORTS MAKE THE GRADE

Hinton's fight against drugs and crystal methamphetamine got a passing
grade from residents at the Report Card on our Community Drug Problem
Sept. 28.

About 60 residents turned out to hear about the war on crystal meth,
ask questions and offer feedback to the six panelists representing
different aspects of the fight. Talk quickly turned to the legal and
enforcement issues in the community once the floor was opened up to
the public.

"Eighteen (officers) is still not going to change things unless we've
got the support of the 10,000 people that live here," said Cpl. Glenn
Alford, who was there to speak on behalf of the RCMP.

Alford said the community has made strides in the right direction in
the past few years since taking up the fight against meth, but more
still needs to be done.

The detachment is receiving two new officers in the next few months,
which will bring the total in town to 18, but he said the RCMP cannot
wage the crusade alone.

"We need the people of Hinton to be our eyes and ears," he said.

He highlighted forms that the public can fill out when they want to
report a suspected drug house. The forms will soon be available on the
Town of Hinton web site and can also be picked up at the local RCMP
detachment.

Alford said to help the RCMP track down and catch those involved in
the drug trade, the public has to be willing to come forward and point
the finger.

Another obstacle to investigating and apprehending people suspected of
trafficking or producing meth and other drugs is obtaining a search
warrant, Alford told the crowd.

He and chief Crown prosecutor John Higgerty discussed the
centralization of the process to get a search warrant.

Until about six or seven years ago, Hinton had a resident justice of
the peace, who could be contacted by the RCMP to get a search warrant.
Now, however, there are two central call centres to obtain a warrant
- -- one in Edmonton and one in Calgary.

Alford said having one in town that knows the people and the
situations better can make getting that search warrant easier for the
RCMP.

Alford said in order to help the RCMP get a warrant to search a
suspected drug house, the public needs to offer reliable, detailed
information.

"We live in this community too and we love nothing better than taking
down a drug operation," Alford said.

From all accounts at the meeting, the war against crystal meth has
been successful since the Hinton Drug Action Committee was formed in
2003. But the problem is far from solved.

Garry Boldt, casework supervisor with Child and Family Services, said
between 30 and 50 per cent of the office's caseload has to do with
crystal meth.

"Parenting and crystal meth don't mix, period," he said.

In many cases where crystal meth is involved, he said, it is
determined that children need to be removed from the home.

Jane Kreiner, who has worked as a registered nurse at Hinton General
Hospital for 12 years and for a total of 24 years in rural hospitals,
said over the years she has seen an increase in the number of patients
admitted due to illegal drug use.

"We still see plenty of intoxicated people, yet I've observed that
illegal drugs are more prevalent," she said. "We do see more
self-confessed meth users."

Unfortunately, she said, the hospital is not equipped to deal with
detox patients. There is no designated ward or even a bed at the
hospital to assist people coming off drugs, said Kreiner, who is also
a member of the HDAC.

Tasha Allen Symon, area supervisor for Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Commission (AADAC), said that over the past year 34 per cent of
clients reported using amphetamines, and 24 per cent expressed a
concern over crystal meth.

The AADAC offers assistance to people with a variety of addiction
issues, including drugs, alcohol, tobacco and gambling. Allen Symon
said she was happy with the turn out for the forum.

"I was glad to see so many community members out," she said. "I'm glad
to hear people are really interested in a solution."