Grey County will increase the amount of money it provides to a local crystal meth task force.
County Council approved a decision by its social services committee to provide 40 thousand dollars to the task force.
That’s up from 15 thousand last year.
The County had originally budgeted for 25 thousand dollars, but was asked by council to reconsider after it was learned that Bruce County would provide 40 thousand, but only if Grey County matched that number.
Meaford Deputy Mayor Harley Greenfield is one of two county representatives on the task force, which is made up of politicians, health officials, law enforcement, social services directors and school board representatives.
He says the goal is to establish a drug court day in the region and support the hiring of an advocate who can be in court with offenders and try to make contact with them for the purposes of rehabilitation.
Greenfield notes crystal meth is attractive to users because it’s fairly inexpensive, but it’s also highly addictive.
He says if even a few people can be turned around, the program will be worthwhile.
Hanover Deputy Mayor Bob White says money has been given in the past for non-smoking initiatives.
He says those are worthwhile, but meth is a problem that requires the same kind of attention.
White says officials in and near Walkerton have been battling this problem for years, but it’s everywhere in the region now and so it deserves a serious approach from at least a regional standpoint.
