GOAL

"WORKING TOGETHER FOR A DRUG RESISTANT COMMUNITY!"  

Hinton Drug Action Brochure - click here.

HISTORY

The Hinton Drug Action Committee was formed in February 2003 as a result of a significant, shared
concern about the availability and use of crystal
methamphetamine in the community and
surrounding area.  Since its inception, representation on the Hinton Drug Action Committee has included the schools, police, clergy, AADAC, hospital, municipal government, women's shelter, Community Health Services, Child and Family Services and Community Corrections.

METH HURTS (2003 - 2006)

Working together, this group proactively addressed the issue of crystal meth through the implementation of a three year "Meth Hurts" campaign (2003 to 2006) which included the following components:   

• Door to door methamphetamine
  awareness campaign
• Education and social marketing
  campaign including community
  presentations, media articles, poster campaign, billboards and community benches.
• Hosting the 2004 Meth Hurts Community
  Mobilization Conference attended by
  300 people from across the province.

The campaign was considered a success by the committee and community in that it:

• Significantly raised awareness levels in the community about crystal
  methamphetamine on the individual, family and community.
   

The Hinton Drug Action Committee has achieved some concrete successes with the Meth Hurts campaign while also acquiring experience in working collaboratively and gaining knowledge in the area of substance use prevention.

DEVELOPMENTAL ASSET BUILDING (2007 - Present)

In 2007, the committee was at a crossroads.  There was a sense and some supporting evidence in the community that problems with methamphetamine had been replaced by problems with crack cocaine, alcohol and marijuana.  This led to a discussion about the purpose of the Hinton Drug Action Committee - do we want to educate about drugs in our community, given this is already being done by parents, schools, AADAC, the RCMP, etc. or do we want to prevent substance problems?

Guided by best practice evidence in prevention, the group went through a process of refocusing its efforts towards a broader, longer term prevention approach aimed at positive youth development and building Developmental Assets in youth.