“Meth - What Every Parent Needs to Know”
The Crystal Meth Prevention Society of BC today presented its ‘Be Crystal Clear’ Meth Info Show before a wide cross section of the community including MLA’s, Councillors, Westshore RCMP, SNAP Photo Magazine and CHEK TV News.
In a survey of 2700 students after seeing this show, 96 % thought that other people should see it too. 22 % said they know someone using crystal meth.
“Understanding how Meth works protects students and communities against street drugs in general and crystal meth in particular” said Society Executive Director Mark McLaughlin. “We are asking for Community support to help continue these presentations.”
‘Death by Jib’, a gritty video used as part of the presentation seen by students grades 6 through 12 was also shown. Over 150 audience members including many children with their families asked questions for 25 minutes after the show during an open floor discussion.
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| CMP Society ED. Mark McLaughlin
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MLA Horgan, Councillor Sifert, VREB Rep. Jim Bennett
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Langford City Council and Spencer Middle School sponsored the event as part of a $3000 grant to help bring the presentation to its students and community. There is an increasing trend by town councils to combat drugs in their community this way.
Said Langford Mayor Stew Young, "Everybody wins when kids stay drug free! Families, our community and our health care system are better off, and that's important to us."
Attending were local MLA John Horgan, Langford Councillors Winnie Sifert and Denise Blackwell representing Mayor Stew Young and Council, representatives for MLA Maurine Karagianis, Victoria Real Estate Board Government Relations Coordinator Jim Bennett, as well as CMP Society President Don Monsour & Society Board Members Dr. Brian Saunders, Tony Baldo, Terry Spence, Peter Rowat, Bob Parrotta and Advisory Board Member Ruth McLaughlin.
"The presentation gives the facts about meth in a way that's easy for youth to understand," said John Horgan, MLA for Juan de Fuca. "It’s a fantastic educational tool to remind families about the destructive results of drug abuse in our communities."
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| UVic Volunteer Nursing & Social Work students Andrea Stark, Karren Younger-McCurry, Michelle Leach, Charlene Cook
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VREB Rep. Jim Bennett, Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan, Shannon Russell,
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The presentation was free by donation at the Isabelle Reader Theatre, Spencer Middle School, 1026 Goldstream Ave. Langford. Media requests included the Times-Colonist paper, the Goldstream Gazette, The Ocean and The Q103 Radio stations, Shaw Cable and CHEK TV News.
The CMPS is a registered charitable Society fighting to stop the inroads of street drugs and crystal meth in communities throughout B.C. using a three-tier strategy of education, enforcement and treatment.
Media contact: Mark McLaughlin Landline 250-744-4111
