NATIONAL EXPOSURE FOR METH KICKERS

A Kamloops program aimed at kicking crystal methamphetime has become a hot
property.

The Fifth Estate, CBC's premier investigative documentary program, has its
lens set on Meth Kickers, a local pilot project aimed at helping young
people quit the highly addictive drug.

Bob Hughes, a youth addictions counsellor with the Phoenix Centre's Raven
Program, said crystal meth is spreading west to east, across the country.

"It's just beginning to slip into the niche markets of the drug trade of
Ontario and Eastern Canada," Hughes said.

Meth, in B.C., is another matter.

"We're no different than any other British Columbian community."

For the past week, cameras and producers from the Fifth Estate have
interviewed Hughes and fellow counsellors, as well as participants in Meth
Kickers, hospital staff and RCMP.

Filming is set to wrap up this week, and the program will air at 9 p.m. on
March 23.

Meth Kickers is a six-week program for 13- to 24-year-olds who want to quit
using crystal meth.

It differs from past programs by screening urine for meth or cocaine;
making parental (or a trustworthy friend) participation mandatory and
taking a harm reduction approach to alcohol and marijuana.

As far as Hughes knows, the program is unique because it targets a single drug.

The original program began in mid-November.

Hughes said the program has shown "some promise" but it's still too early
to judge its success.

A second Meth Kickers program began two weeks ago, modified to include a
two-week "tapering phase" to teach participants how to stop using before
abstaining.