BATTLING CRYSTAL METH

The St. Patrick's House Society, a drug and alcohol supportive
recovery centre for men, is offering a new program called Meth Busters
they hope will help both meth-amphetamine addicts and their families
cope with their problems.

The program is being headed by Andrew Donald, the society's addictions
counsellor, and Marilyn Rayner, the society's executive director.

The first session was held on May 29, and the second is to be held May
30 at the public library from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

"The first two sessions are for families that have crystal meth users,
to help them deal with their issues ... The other [sessions] are to
target crystal meth users," said Donald.

The 14 sessions following the initial two are to help crystal meth
users cope with a life without crystal meth. These sessions are also
to be held in the library. These sessions' focus are on youth aged 16
to 26 who are or have ever used crystal meth, and want to change their
lives.

The remaining two sessions serve to bring both the families and
addicted clients together in order to work out understanding and
strategies that help families cope with issues that surround crystal
meth addiction.

"Just talk to the police ... It seems to be a huge problem - the
epidemic of the century," said Donald about the crystal meth problem
in Prince George.

"We've had people from all walks of life come in ... Doctors, lawyers.
Employers contact us and send their employees," said Rayner.

The St. Patrick's House has been at its current location at 1735 Yew
Street since 1980.

It currently has 19 beds that are typically full, where guests stay
while seeking counselling. They usually stay for between six and eight
weeks.

Their main goal is to improve the quality and availability of
addictions services in our community.

They have an open door policy, wherein people can come and go as they
please.

"There are no bars on the windows," said Rayner.

They want the public to know that they take in federal parolees, as it
is a good place for them to go before heading back into the public, or
wherever their parole dictates.

They do not accept sexual offenders, as there is a youth group next
door that could potentially be in danger.