TOUGHER METH MEASURERS BEING TAKEN BY SCHOOL

In the next few weeks the sub-committee of the Interagency Committee will
be meeting to establish a stronger stance in schools encouraging the
reporting of crystal meth users.

Melfort Journal -- In the next few weeks the sub-committee of the
Interagency Committee will be meeting to establish a stronger stance in
schools encouraging the reporting of crystal meth users.

Rob McKay, principal at MUCC and a member of the interagency committee,
said the stronger stance is in addition to the anti-drug policy the RCMP
and the school has in place.

"Crystal meth is a bit of a new phenomenon for us and because it is so
addictive and so dangerous people realized we needed a more concentrated
effort, not just on drugs in general which we already do a fair bit of
education, but specifically on crystal meth," McKay said.

"People don't know what it is, kids don't know how dangerous it is because
it is inexpensive and available so we need to do a better job of making
sure everybody knows how bad it is."

Part of the plan for the reporting of crystal meth users and traffickers
includes the anonymity that has been used in the school with reporting
other crimes.

McKay said any students that report anything criminal to the school's
administration are kept completely confidential.

"Their names are never released and the kids who are dealing (drugs) when
we deal with them the (reporting student's) name is never brought up."

McKay said that creates a feeling of safety when it comes to keeping the
hallways drug free.

That safe feeling is something that is necessary if students are going to
continue to report drugs in the school.

"When it goes to the police the person who informed us, their name never
comes up, doesn't appear in any reports or nothing, they are kept
completely confidential," he said.

And because of that there are no backlashes to the students who do report
drugs or other crimes.

"If you are going to expect the kids to put themselves in a situation of
informing that drugs are being trafficked or other kids have them, you have
to protect those kids of they won't be reporting to us anymore."

Another part of the stronger stance against crystal meth in Melfort is more
education.

The committee will be holding information assemblies for students, similar
to the one they held on June 8 for parents, presenting them with
information on the drug.

Although not sure what the final form of the an assembly will be about,
McKay said it will be about dangers of the drug and affects of long-term
usage since a lot of times the children are misinformed about the drug.

"The people selling it are going to misinform them as to the dangers of it.
They don't want them to know it is made with Drano and anhydrous ammonia
and those kinds of really poisonous chemicals. They say it makes you feel
good."

"We have told parents what to look for, now it is time to tell the kids how
dangerous it is."

Despite misconceptions McKay believes assemblies like that work in helping
keep the drugs away from people.

"Education is always a good thing, even with the parents. If parents don't
want to admit their kids could be involved, at least they know what to look
for," he said.

McKay is hoping continuing education for everyone will help change the
ongoing problem of Crystal meth.

"These kids who have this will have it at home and have all the signs. We
have these kids for five hours a day, teachers will have some idea what to
look for, but a parent who has that child in their home every day is much
better prepared to look for the signs and see the changes."

McKay sees it as not a real big problem yet, but hopes to end it before it
grows into one.

"Like everything else with drugs, if you don't deal with it the problem
only grows. I don't think it is a big problem in the community, but it is
something everyone needs to be aware of so it doesn't become a problem."