CHAMBER HOSTING DRUG MEETING

The Taber Community Against Drugs group is welcoming more people to get
involved in reducing Taber's drug problem with a lunch and learn session
this Tuesday at the Heritage Inn.

The event will go from noon until 1:30 and is targeting the business
community, service clubs, churches and sporting organizations.

Individuals, called dream keepers, heading various committees as part of
Taber Community Against Drugs (TCAD) want to inform people how some
northern communities experienced drastic effects because of drug use.

The meeting is also intended to increase awareness of local problems linked
to drug use and trafficking.

"I think we are just going to keep plugging at it," said Arlene Prummel,
who along with Carol Day is leading the membership committee of TCAD. "I
think summer will be tough, but we will still be working on it pretty
steadily. If the group of dream keepers keep doing what they are doing now
they are going to be very alive in this community."

Tuesday's session will include information such as how crime has increased
in Taber as a result of drugs, signs someone is using or trafficking drugs
and the recipe for methamphetamine for business owners and parents.

People in the M.D. of Taber are invited to the lunch and learn segment.

"We really want to hit the M.D. It's not just a problem in Taber it's in
some M.D. areas as well," said Prummel. "Who knows down the road there
could be (meth) labs out in the country."

At last Saturday's session, a former local drug addict spoke to the group
of about 35 people who attended. He suggested implementing an AADAC office
in Taber and having more addiction counsellors in town.

"I know that is a dollars and cents thing, but that's why it was good to
see (Cardston-Taber-Warner MLA) Broyce Jacobs there. He needs to take that
to Edmonton when he goes," said Duncan, the speaker who requested his last
name be protected.

Those who attended the forum joined committees including ones for funding,
membership, enforcement, marketing and education and prevention, which got
the biggest turnout.

The education and prevention group discussed the possibility of having drug
education start at Grade 3 in Taber schools instead of in Grade 5. Members
suggested that because people in the group who see situations involving
drugs because of their job know cases where young children see drugs at
home and in other communities have done drugs at as young as 10.

Anyone interested in attending the lunch and learn is asked to call the
Taber and District Chamber of Commerce at 223-2265 by this Friday. The fee
for the lunch is $10.