FEDS DELIVER MONEY TO FIGHT DRUG ABUSE

Drawing on the memory of a brother whose drug use led him to a tragic
end, Kelowna-Lake Country MP Ron Cannan announced funding to try and
keep Kelowna youth off illicit substances.

"I'm the youngest of four and my oldest brother, basically in his teen
years, got involved in drugs," said Cannan at the Okanagan Boys and
Girls Club on Richter Street, where he announced Thursday that the
federal government is providing $217,453 over three years, for the
club's new Youth Options Project.

Cannan said that over time his brother got into hard drugs and
overdosed a couple of times, which affected his mental state.

And then a few years ago, Cannan's brother found himself in
circumstances where he died in a house fire.

"It's a complicated matter of slowly progressing in a negative way.he
was very smart, lots of potential.he just didn't have the channels to
get involved (in a program)," said Cannan.

"Everyone has a choice to make, you can't force people to take a
program but if the program's not available, it's not a choice."

The Youth Options Project will teach life skills to groups of about 15
teenagers at a time, as well as provide them with recreation
opportunities.

The idea is to reduce drug abuse among at-risk youth by addressing
behavioural, social and environmental factors.

The CEO of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs, Crag Monley, was
particularly happy the federal government committed to three years of
funding instead of the usual one year at a time.

"We know much of what the business that we do is dependent on short
term funding, that hopefully we have the results and it's renewed year
to year," he said.

"This opportunity, where the government is saying they're going to
invest for three years in this program, is really encouraging because
I think kids and staff, we all need to know there's some longevity,
there's some future to what we're doing."

Cannan said that with three years of funding, Okanagan Boys and Girls
Club have a good opportunity to prove their program works.

And if they can do that, then more federal money might be available in
the future.

"I can't guarantee it but what I can say is after three years they'll
have a track record and they have a much better chance of securing
additional funding," he said.