Mark McLaughlin knows something about the damage crystal meth can inflict on addicts and their families and he wants to share that knowledge.
Two years ago, one of his children began using the drug. Desperate to rescue their loved one, McLaughlin and his wife began looking for help, but couldn't find any. What they did find is a lot of other parents facing the same predicament.
"Like us, they were out there, wandering the streets at midnight looking for their kids. We said, 'Somebody's got to do something about this' and that somebody was us," McLaughlin said.
The Victoria couple got together with other parents and formed the Crystal Meth Society of B.C., an organization devoted to combatting meth addiction through education, encouraging enforcement efforts and promoting effective treatment.
McLaughlin is bringing the CMSBC Meth Info Show to Surrey and White Rock this week. While the show is tailored to different age groups, it aims to present the hard, ugly reality of meth addiction in hopes of steering kids away from the drug.
The show also helps parents learn to spot the signs of meth use and how to get help. More than 26,000 kids and parents have seen the show so far.
"It's good information, useful information for kids and parents," Mclaughlin said.
The society also encourages communities to set up meth watch programs to block the use of precursor chemicals used to manufacture the drug and promotes the adoption of municipal bylaws designed to combat meth labs in rental properties.
The society also works with health authorities and other organizations to establish meth treatment facilities.
The show will be presented at several Surrey schools today and tomorrow and at a parent night at White Rock Elementary, 1273 Fir Street, White Rock from 6:30 to 8 p.m. tonight.
McLaughlin is convinced the society's approach can help and said things are going better for his daughter.
"She's doing better than she was, but she's not out of the woods yet. She's living at home again... and every night spent sleeping in her own bed is a good night."
For more information about the society, visit www.crystalmethbc.ca.
