NO REST FOR THE DRUG RESPONSE TASK FORCE

The Drug Response Task Force is not stopping.

Formed in October 2002 after the results of the city's Social Needs
Assessment were released, the task force was established to battle the
issue of substance abuse among youth in Camrose and region. It is a
coordinated group of several stakeholders including AADAC, Battle River
Regional Division and the Camrose Police Service, but it is not an
extension of the police service.

Kerry Laberge, chairman of the task force, says while the group has made
strides, it's not giving up.

"I don't think there's been any other occurrence in Camrose and region
where the agencies have worked collaboratively together to find creative
and proactive ways to assist our community with this issue.

"We're not sweeping it under the rug. We're acknowledging that we do have a
problem.

"It's not a school problem, it's a community-wide problem. It takes a
community to raise a child. We're trying to ensure all the agencies are on
board to provide a wrap-around service," said Laberge.

Initiatives undertaken by the task force include the use of detective Steve
Walton, author of Get the Dope on Dope: First Response Guide to Street Drugs.

"We brought him in to professionally develop all school administrators, all
councils and opened it up to frontline workers at other agencies," said
Laberge.

"Over 4,500 kids in the Battle River region have been spoken to and
provided an education regarding crystal meth and other drugs." Copies of
the book have been left with school principals and in libraries for
students and parents to access. Schools have also been equipped with drug
information for school counsellors and personnel.

"Battle River Regional Division has done an outstanding job in assisting
the task force with its education and awareness campaign," commented Laberge.

Caring cards have also been developed for youth to pass out to their peers.

The cards include phone numbers of agencies who are able to assist young
people dealing with drug addiction.

The task force is currently in the process of developing a handbook that
will be used by frontline workers and parents.

"The goal is to create a community support network not only for youth, but
also for parents. Realistically, if we only work with youth and reintegrate
them back into the family without working with the parents it's not going
to be as successful."

The handbook is already receiving provincial attention and a commitment has
been made by the province to cover the cost of production. The task force
is also focusing on a peer education project where youth will hear from
their peers about struggles with drug abuse.

"The resource that is the most underutilized is the voice of the youth. We
need to sit back and listen to what the youth in our community have to say."