Vanderhoof - Meth forum goes through schools.
Date: Sunday, October 26 @ 21:18:08 PDT
Topic: Crystal Meth Society


Mark McLaughlin speaks with the voice of experience when he says parents need to be educated about crystal meth and the path it weaves in the work place, in schools and in society.

“Parents need to know that there is no safe level of consumption for crystal meth. Just like their is no safe level of jumping out of an airplane,” said McLaughlin.

“Crystal meth works very rapidly to wipe the ‘fore-brain’ from your mind, making grown-up conversations impossible to follow. Meth is not like any other drugs. It’s in a category strictly of its own.”

McLaughlin and his wife are the founders of the Crystal Meth Society of BC.

Two years ago they were desperately searching for answers. They found more parents like themselves in Victoria and when they all got together to ‘do something’ they formed a B.C. Society. Their organization encourages enforcement efforts, promotes treatment and teaches students and parents about combating crystal meth through education.

And, it is in the role of education that sent Mark McLaughlin around the province talking to school children and showing videos like “Death by Jib” and others from his library. His four-day tour began in Vanderhoof and hit School District 91 schools all the way through to Granisle. He toured through the Central Interior last year and is back by request. He is able to tailor the presentation by grade and age appropriateness.

“The presentation targets the students from Grade 6 to Grade 12. Following the forty minute show, students are encouraged to ask questions, and there are always lots of questions,” he said from the road at Grassy Plains School. “They ask questions like: How can I help a friend who is using it? What can I do if a family member is using it? Will you die from it? Can you really get hooked the first time you use it? “And,” says McLaughlin, “I speak to them about 11-year-old meth addicts, and how 24 per cent of the kids know of someone who is using it.”

Meth users are driven by meth. Their brain answers to no one and nothing else but more meth. The surveys show that only eight per cent of students had used the drug and further says that only four per cent have had repeated use. “The reason those numbers are so low,” says McLaughlin, “Is that kids who are hooked can no longer function in the school environment. They can’t go to school any more, they’ve dropped out.”

There are about a dozen youth in the recovery program in Victoria. They have cut down their meth use and are trying to integrate back into society. “Some have found jobs,” says McLaughlin,”But, recovery is time consuming - it can take up to a couple of years and constant vigilance to keep them on track.

“The deal is so not worth it.”

McLaughlin is interested in getting others in the area involved in the delivery of his program. He’s trying to deliver a ‘Train the Trainer” program, so local volunteers could make presentations to work places and other environments where the education is much needed.





This article comes from CrystalMethBC - Meth Information Website
http://crystalmethbc.com

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