DRUG RESPONSE TASK FORCE HANDBOOK

A Glance at 2005 - February

Camrose Canadian -- Accolades were spread far and wide to those who
helped develop a handbook to help combat drug use across the Camrose
community.

The handbook, created by members of the Drug Response Task Force, was
launched at the Community Centre, Feb. 2. While various agency members
who helped to produce the book have made great strides in creating
awareness about drugs and the effects, a bridge to bond these
representatives has been formed.

High Praises

Minister of Child and Family Services Iris Evans attended the ceremony
and praised the work of 15 agencies who've come together to produce a
manual that will help to bring families closer.

Evans said that it's not the money that was advanced that made this
book successful it's the hearts and minds of those who worked on the
book.

It was a discussion in Edmonton with RCMP that made Evans aware of the
dangers of crystal meth.

"It made me think oh my god what have we got with crystal meth,
something that is so accessible that products are sold on the shelf."
Drug addiction she added wears no ethnic, social, or religious face
and with the support of the handbook it could help save lives.

"It gives them (parents, frontline workers and teachers etc.) some
resources to look at, and to internalize and think through as they
manage their lives."

"Your community is right-sized because there are so many people here
that know one another that you can build those bridges together.
That's so important."

Evans added that if the handbook could be replicated in every
community she knows the lives of children would be saved.

"I know we would save families, I know we would save marriages and I
know we would save money...because we would be efficiently
protecting."

"The drug response task force is an outstanding example of what
happens when a number of agencies come together with determination and
commitment to work to eradicate our community of such a terrible
scourge as this drug."