DRUG SESSION PRODUCTIVE -- METH COMMITTEE STRUCK

The Oct. 8 Dialogue on Drugs meeting brought 27 key agencies and
individuals together to discuss and create an action plan to help
reduce drug abuse, more specifically methamphetamine use, within our
community.

The group acknowledged that Edson has a serious problem with crystal
meth and is very determined to do something about it.

Discussions centered around activities that could be carried out to
deliver the desirable outcome of reduced use of methamphetamines in
Edson and the development of a core committee group to begin
developing strategies.

One thing was made very clear throughout the processess and that is it
will take a complete and whole community effort to make this happen.

All factions of the community will be called upon to help. This will
include individuals, agencies, businesses, municipal and privincial
governments and the media.

A smaller core committee of six people was developed to look at
information and other developed models with the mandate to come up
with and implement an action plan. The committee has set a date for
its first meeting on Nov. 3.

We are looking at a 24-month time frame to see significant change.
This will give the committee the proper time to develop, coordinate,
implement and evaluate any changes within the community.