ANTI-DRUG COALITION IN INITIAL DEVELOPMENT STAGES

A new coalition targeted at drug awareness and education, has formed
in Strathmore consisting of members from the Strathmore RCMP, AADAC,
Golden Hills School Division and many other social service groups.

Staff Sgt. Ken Foster said he was involved in a similar project when
he was stationed in another detachment and saw the need for one here.

"All these societies are doing great work," he said of existing groups
in Strathmore.

He said he thought "why not bring them all together and work
collectively on drug concerns in Strathmore and area?"

"Rather than everyone doing their own thing, lets do it
together."

He said at the first meeting on Feb. 22 there was an overwhelming
response to the idea.

Foster said the first task was to gauge the local interest in forming
such a group. Now that they have realized that the program is needed
in Strathmore, he said the focus will be to educate and prevent youth
from becoming involved in drugs.

"That takes work off everyone's table if it keeps youth off drugs," he
said.

Foster stressed that the group would not be focusing on enforcement,
but on helping kids become more aware of the risks and dangers
associated with drugs.

He said the group has begun applying for grants and will be reaching
out to industrial groups, who he said usually need workers with the
current labour shortage. He said by helping the program out the
industrial groups would be ensuring a source of clean and sober workers.

Foster said the initial planning stages of the program are a little
overwhelming, as he wants to ensure that the group does serve a
purpose and doesn't meet simply for the sake of meeting.

He said the next step after grants have come through will be to have a
confidential survey in the junior and senior high schools to determine
if student perceptions of the drug scene in Strathmore matches what
the RCMP and AADAC have noted to date.

Anyone wishing to support the coalition or wanting more information
can contact Foster.