SCOURGE OF CRYSTAL METH FOCUS OF WORKSHOP

The fastest-growing deadly drug in the world - crystal meth - will be the
subject of a daylong workshop Friday at the Ramada Inn

Sponsored by the Kelowna Foster Parent Association, the workshop will
feature police and addiction experts, including Bob Hughes of the Phoenix
Centre Raven Program in Kamloops

"He is a very interesting speaker, and I felt there is a need to know more
about crystal meth," said workshop organizer Jessica MacFarlane. "It's what
everybody is wondering about

"He (Hughes) will give a knowledgeable, lively and invigorating talk on
identifying drugs your teen may be using, with treatment approaches and
advice on how to stay sane and engaged in a young person's life while they
are using it." A dozen agencies, including the RCMP, will help participants
understand what can be done to deal with the problem locally. The audience
will hear the mother of a meth-addicted youth describe the trauma of
seeking help and not knowing where to turn. A teen who has been in the
crystal meth scene will also describe what the addiction is like from a
youth's perspective

The number of British Columbians who have died with methamphetamine in
their systems has more than doubled in the past year B.C. Coroners Service
statistics taken from toxicology tests show that 33 people died with the
drug in their systems in 2004, compared to 15 in 2003, nine in 2002, five
in 2001 and three in 2000. Of the 33 deaths last year, 29 were men and four
women

The $50 workshop includes lunch and has room for 90 more participants.
Those who wish to attend should contact McFarlane at 861-3772 or
jessmacfarlane@shaw.ca no later than today.