DRUG FORUM PLANNED FOR JUNE

Professionals from various sectors that deal with drug use who were at a
drug task force session Friday hope participants of a community forum in
June will develop an addiction to battling drug use and trafficking in Taber.

The forum will involve various committees breaking into groups to discuss
strategies to deal with people selling illegal drugs in Taber and help
those who are suffering because of drug addiction. Taber has experienced an
increase in the use and distribution of crack cocaine and methamphetamine
and since the drugs have destroyed other communities, everyone who resides
here is being called on to help minimize the impact in Taber.

"The responsibility rests with the people who are sitting in this room to
bring our friends and neighbours with us. That is what is going to make the
next meeting work," said Cardston-Taber-Warner MLA Broyce Jacobs.

Along with networking among participants someone from northern Alberta who
has seen significant impact cocaine and meth on their community, will
deliver a speech at the session.

At last Friday's meeting, individuals volunteered to head various
committees needed for initiates to deal with local drug concerns.

Jessica Kress, who is on a student leadership committee at St. Mary's
student, will be heading a youth committee.

"Not everyone is into sports. There has to be places in the community for
youth to hang out or play pool or something," said Kress. "I know it's in
the works, but it's just not coming fast enough."

Kress suggested students are made more aware of problems associated with
drugs at the higher elementary levels. She and Kristy Gabruck, who also
represented St. Mary's at the meeting, said students in Grade 5 and up need
to hear more scary statistics about drug use.

"The younger you can get awareness the better it is," said Gabruck.

Along with a group composed of youth, areas there are committees for
include addiction and treatment, marketing, a ministerial association,
membership, funding, education and prevention, enforcement and political
concerns.

After members of the committees discuss objectives within their groups at
the forum, each group will share their plans with all the other people present.

"We don't want a bunch of groups working independently because we already
have that in Taber," said Karen Lanser, representative for FCSS.

Erin Wardlaw, program manager at Safe Haven, mentioned a mentor program
should be developed for those dependent on drugs to talk to people who were
chronic users but have been treated and are doing well. She said assistance
would be needed for those close to drug addicts users and added 77 per cent
of women at the shelter are married to users.

Taber's police Insp. Graham Abela and Const. Howard Kehler, school resource
officer, who have been heading the force so far, hope a couple concerned
citizens will take on leadership after the forum, since they would hold a
fresh outlook.