HEALTH REGION SCHEDULES MEETINGS TO DISCUSS SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HARM
REDUCTION

Communities in the Sunrise Health Region are being invited to discuss
substance and harm reduction policies with regional officials.

The meetings will be focused on 11 areas of concern that were
originally identified by polling just over 400 adults and youths in
the health region.

The hope is that one or two initiatives can be taken by each community
and used to curb substance abuse.

"We're very intent on letting the people in each community have a say
on what policies get implemented," said Andrew Sedley, the health
promotion co-ordinator for the Sunrise Health Region. "Each community
has its own specific needs and the more input we get, the better."

Many of the policies have specific aims of reducing substance use
among youths in the region. Sedley is optimistic about success because
the youth-targeted policies have come from youths themselves. In the
past it was often adults imposing ideas of what they thought should
work.

"We're being told that after-school programs and late-night events are
a big help when it comes to helping kids avoid drugs," said Sedley.

"Instead of just going into classrooms and telling kids that drugs are
bad we're looking at providing them with viable alternatives within
each community."

Sedley is quick to point out that substance abuse in the communities
involved -- Canora, Foam Lake, Melville, Kamsack, Esterhazy, Yorkton,
and Ituna -- is not rampant.

Rather the meetings are aimed at a four-pillar approach of prevention,
enforcement, harm-reduction and treatment, with the emphasis on prevention.

Alcohol use, as is the case in almost all cities and towns, is the
main area of concern.

"There are some very simple procedures that we would like to see
implemented when it comes to alcohol use," said Sedley.

"Since many of the social events in the centres are held in municipal
town halls, things like limiting drink tickets or even buying tickets
back at the end of a party go a long way in preventing alcohol crimes."

Sedley believes that impaired driving, underage drinking, public
intoxication, vandalism and assault could all be drastically reduced
if the new policies are implemented.

Needle exchange is also being discussed in selected
communities.

The problem has become apparent in spring with the melting of snow and
needles being found underneath.

The Sunrise Health Region is committed to stopping the spread of
blood-borne and sexually transmitted diseases.

It is exploring the possibility of a needle exchange, which is usually
only seen in larger centres. "Such a program helps the health and
social services reach out to people that need help," said Sedley.
"It's important to have links to people that can use assistance when
it's so hard to make contact with them otherwise."

The meetings are scheduled to begin today at the Canora Composite
School Centre and will continue Wednesday at the Foam Lake Composite
School Library, Thursday at the Melville Comprehensive School
cafeteria, Monday at the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute library, Jan.
15 at the Esterhazy Central High School library, Jan. 28 at the
Yorkton Sacred Heart High School library, and Jan. 19 at the Ituna
School Library. All of the meetings are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.