P.A. RALLIES AGAINST DRUGS, ALCOHOL

It was tough to find a seat Wednesday night at a local rally against
alcohol and substance abuse.

Several hundred people of all ages turned up at the Prince Albert
Exhibition Centre to lend their support to a local addictions strategy
and awareness campaign. The rally was one of two events in the city
Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, members of a local committee working on an
addictions and detox strategy officially unveiled its plan to members
of the public and provincial government officials.

Those who came to speak at the rally Wednesday night also had an
important message for local residents.

"Drugs are coming to a home near you," said Saskatoon MLA Ted
Merriman, whose daughter Kelly has battled addiction.

"If they're not there today, they'll be there tomorrow ... This is a
widespread disease."

Kelly, a recovering alcoholic and crystal meth addict, said using
drugs made her look at herself differently, saying she began to feel
smart and pretty. Even after entering rehab for the first time, she
said she still didn't realize she had a problem.

"It made me feel everything that I never felt," she said of her drug
abuse.

Lori Heggstrom, a local resident who lost her son, job and home to
crystal meth, urged those in the crowd to stay away from the drug. She
said recovery is a difficult process.

"That's probably the hardest thing about quitting, it's so lonely,"
said Heggstrom, who has been clean for 22 months.

Jody Boulet, the city's community development officer, said
Wednesday's rally was held to raise awareness about the issue of
substance abuse. Local residents need to know what to look for to
address the problem, he said.

But Boulet said the event was also a way for everyone in Prince Albert
to stand up against the problem and let others know drug abuse will
not be tolerated.