PUBLIC FORUM ADDRESSES DRUG ISSUES

The Problem Has Been Clearly Defined. Now It's Time To Do Something
About It.

Results of the South Cariboo Methamphetamine Response Program were
released on Monday night at a public forum at the Red Coach Inn. The
program will be repeated June 18 at the same place, starting at 7 p.m.

Stuart Clark, Project Co-ordinator and Executive Director of Educo,
summarized the 75-page report, but warned against expecting too much
too soon.

"This is an effort that has to be seen in the long-term," he said.
"Other places such as Richmond and Princeton have adopted a community
strategy and they are seeing some very positive and encouraging
results. We're hoping for similar results in this area. This (Monday
night's meeting) is not a solution-based presentation."

The bottom line, after sitting through a 90-minute synopsis of the
study which included 597 area students, is a committee will be formed
to combat the issues and difficulties raised.

It will be an all-encompassing committee, with representation from a
variety of walks of life.

The committee, according to Clark, will ideally consist of at least
one person representing the school district, sports and recreation
players and coaches, local service providers, local media, the RCMP,
youth asset building organizations such as Educo and Rotary, Canim
Lake youth and band elders, the Chamber of Commerce and any community
interested people.

The broad goals of the committee will be to create a funding proposal
for an asset building strategy, to steer and act as an advisory to the
strategy and co-ordinator of the strategy, as well as to act as an
asset building resource for the South Cariboo.

The problems facing area youth are much more than simply
methamphetamine use.

In fact, the use of meth locally is relatively minor, according to the
survey. By far, the main problem is alcohol abuse and that goes for
all age groups and both genders.

The study looked at a total of 40 assets deemed necessary for youths
to develop into healthy, productive adults and identified areas that
need improvement.

Occasional and high-risk behaviours were rated.

Males were more likely to engage in high-risk behaviour with violence
coming in at 33 per cent, alcohol abuse 31 per cent, anti-social
behaviour at 20 per cent and illicit drug use was fourth at 19 per
cent.

Violence with males was 24 per cent higher than in females, but the
most major increase was shown to be with alcohol.

Students in Grades 6 through 11 were included in the survey, which
showed that violence was the only high-risk behaviour that decreased
with age.

Alcohol was cited as the leading high-risk behaviour among Grade 11's
at 57 per cent, with illicit drug use climbing to 44 per cent. Sex
came in at 38 per cent, followed by violence at 37 per cent and
anti-social behaviour at 34 per cent.

Clark cited a Search Institute study which he said indicated: "The
more assets a young person experiences, the more likely he or she will
choose a healthy lifestyle." That held true regardless of age, race,
gender or region.