REGIONAL COALITION FIGHTS LOCAL DRUG USE

Contrary to popular belief, drug and alcohol abuse by parents and
children is not just a big city problem.

Carstairs Family and Community Support Services director Robbin
Bowman, hopes that a new drug awareness media campaign will help
prevent drug use in families.

"We recognize that small towns are now being targeted by dealers and
we want to spread awareness of this risk."

Communities Who Care were recently approved for a $3,000 grant from
the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission and will use the funding
to engage community and address abusive behaviors.

The campaign, which will target adults and youths, is being launched
by the CWC Drug Coalition - an interagency Mountain View County initiative.

The CWC says the multi-level media campaign will promote harm
reduction and prevention of substance abuse through newspaper
articles, community articles, newsletter, posters, postcards, bill
boards, flyers, presentations, radio, video and website links.

Bowman would also like to see the coalition be able to provide support
for local families through funding for drug counselor positions in
rural areas.

"Drugs and alcohol are ongoing issues and there needs to be resources
for families who are asking for help," says Bowman. "We are finding
with the recent growth and rising economy that the problems with drugs
and alcohol are rising as well."

Lack of support for drug and alcohol abuse in small towns is a common
problem: drug counselors from larger centres only come out once a week
and AADAC programs often have waiting lists - Bowman says obstacles
such as these can really deflate someone's good intentions.

However, the CWC believes the media campaign will go a long way in
preventing these problems.

"We need to be accountable for our neighborhoods, and if the community
embraces our initiative it will have an impact."