LOCAL METH TASK FORCE GOES FULL CIRCLE

It was actually fall in 2004 that staff working at the Society of
Organized Services Child, Youth and Family Centre starting noticing
people coming in acting differently.

Acting differently even for people who were struggling with
addictions.

"We were seeing kids coming in doped up, and we didn't know what it
was," says SOS executive director Kevin Wilson.

The frontline workers for the organization were the people who
finally began putting their finger on what it was, 'crystal
methamphetamine'.

"They figured that's what it was and that was the new drug of choice
for the kids," says Wilson. They decided they had to do something
about it as a community.

With the Oceanside Community Crystal Meth Task Force announcing last
month its wrap-up in the new year, Wilson says they believe they've
made a difference for those in the community affected by the drug.

"Kids that were on the stuff when we started are working in jobs
now," says Wilson.

The idea for a task force came initially from Maple Ridge, where a
rampant homelessness problem revealed a deeply-rooted problem with
crystal meth. The task force there was the first of its kind in B.C.
Oceanside took its cue from them, focusing on three areas, including
education, treatment and enforcement.

The first meeting in June 2005, brought out volunteers from many
different areas in the community, around 60 signing on to be a
part of the over 12 sub-committees that had been set up.

Wilson says the negative response they had been warned would come
from a public not wanting to see or admit to evidence of the ugly
drug in the area, never came to be.

Buoyed by their initial success, the OCCMTF hit the road
running.

First off the blocks was the Meth Watch program, organized by the
Oceanside RCMP Auxiliary, which taught local businesses about
products used in the production of crystal meth and dangerous
combinations.

Public education was addressed through media reports, public
presentations and a resource directory.

As the OCCMTF grew, its plans and structure did as well. Finding that
the Maple Ridge model didn't specifically suit their needs,
alterations were made to streamline their work to focus on youth more
specifically. It was the around 120 seriously-affected young people
in Oceanside who were top on the lists to be helped, says Wilson.

"Anyone could see these kids roaming around Parksville. You just had
to stand still for five minutes."

Most ambitiously, Wilson says they had to find a way to better treat
these youth aE"more recovery facilities were identified as absolutely
necessary.

With a combined fund from the Ministry of Children and Family
Development, Vancouver Island Health Authority, and the SOS, two
homes will be able to support a bed each for recovering users.

After detox, they will be able to stay in a supportive safe harbour
bed.

The OCCMTF took other important steps as well, says Wilson, from
starting a parent support group and an addict support group to
opening both education-focused nights and afternoon outreach times
for youth.

They've also organized training for volunteer outreach work, and
police have started working with the City of Parksville to develop a
bylaw that will deter rental units from becoming meth production labs.

Youth education is being picked up by the local school district
itself.

An initial 90-day process extended over six months, says Wilson, but
he says it's been worth every moment's time.

On Jan. 31, the OCCMTF will release a final report on their work, and
then shift into a smaller organization that will simply keep the
programs that have been developed, running.

What they've proven in 2005, says Wilson, is that a community brought
together, even under sad circumstances, can accomplish all it needs
to.

"Just the fact that we've been able to have the community serve
together in a way like never before," says Wilson. "What can you say,
what can you do but say thank you to the community, a huge thank-you
to the community?"