Groups focused on crystal meth prevention in Northern BC will attend a special forum in Prince George on November 15 to discuss strategies.

"Substance abuse is an issue in the North," said Suzanne Johnston, Northern Health's vice-president of academic services and chief nursing officer. "At Northern Health, we've been working to further develop our staff's ability to respond to this issue. In particular, the use of stimulants is problematic, of which crystal meth is an example."

Northern Health and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General are hosting a special crystal meth prevention forum in Prince George on November 15. The "Building Capacity in Northern Communities" forum is being held for organizations that received funding from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) for local crystal meth initiatives.

Forum participants will have the opportunity to share their project work and discuss community oriented prevention strategies with the hopes of building on these strategies.

"People need to appreciate the terrible harm that crystal meth causes, and so forums such as this are important for getting that message out," said Shirley Bond, Minister of Education and MLA for Prince George-Mount Robson. "We will continue to work with Northern Health and other groups across the province to prevent the devastating consequences of crystal meth addiction."

Participants in the forum are expected to include representatives from Quesnel, Vanderhoof, Mackenzie, Fort Nelson, Dawson Creek, Hazelton, Kitwanga, Terrace, Kitsumkalum, and Burns Lake.

Last year, the provincial government funded the $2 million Community Methamphetamine Response Program. The grant program, administered by the Union of BC Municipalities on behalf of government, distributed grants to 160 organizations across the province. The grants have helped create some 30 crystal meth task forces and community coalitions, and have funded projects like youth peer support groups, a website for at-risk youth, recruitment and training of First Nations' outreach workers, and traditional healing programs for communities affected by the drug.

In conjunction with this forum, a public session will be held during the evening for parents, youth, educators, and other interested residents. The session will take place from 7:00 to 9:00pm at the Coast Inn of the North in Prince George. The evening session will include an introduction by Shirley Bond, Minister of Education and MLA for Prince George-Mount Robson, and a video and slide presentation by Mark McLaughlin, President, and Marilyn Erickson, Vice-President, of the Crystal Meth Society of B.C.