DRUG GROUP SETS OUT ITS TOP SEVEN PRIORITIES

Taber Community Against Drugs members have more confidence plans will be
considered concrete when applications for grants are reviewed, since the
group has identified seven top priorities.

Taber Community Against Drugs (TCAD) categorized its determined priorities
at a meeting Aug. 27 because the group knew its focus had to be more
specific when applying for grants.

The group established the most important objective is the development of a
multi-disciplinary team to meet needs of people who are impacted by illegal
drug abuse and require immediate assistance.

"When people are in trouble they need a place to go where they can get
support, and when police look at it from a legal perspective there is only
so much they can do," said Greg Pratt, executive director of Family and
Community Support Services, who facilitated the meeting.

The group's resource, treatment and counselling committee will create more
elaborate plans for that initiative.

The group's second priority is increasing awareness about the devastating
consequences of drug abuse.

"It (the impacts) can be so widespread and we need the public to understand
that," said Pratt.

The group's priority holding the third-most weight is the development of
promotional items such as a logo and slogan to create consistency.

Increasing the amount of time Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
workers are available in town is another main goal of TCAD. The group has
discussed looking at getting an AADAC employee in town five days a week.

TCAD's other main priorities include educating community members on
resources they can access.

The resources would be to get help to those dealing with drug issues,
promoting and implementing healthy lifestyle changes and implementing an
anti-ostrich campaign.

"Everyone has to be aware drugs are a problem in Taber and we can't have our
heads in the sand and deny it exists," said Pratt.

Some discussion has occurred regarding linking TCAD with the Taber Healthy
Lifestyles Group, as the two organizations share some common goals.

TCAD's overall focus is to reduce use of street drugs like methamphetamine
and cocaine because of how severe risks associated with those drugs are.

"It can be so devastating, so quickly," said Pratt. "If you can take a drug
once and become addictive that is so destructive."

The group's second comprehensive goal is to battle back against the abuse of
alcohol, prescription drugs and other substances that people abuse.

A contest called Chalk Talk, which involves youth and children writing
messages and drawing pictures about drug safety for, will take place in
Taber likely at the end of this month.

TCAD's next meeting is Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. at the Taber Police Service.
Everyone is welcome.