Pubdate: Sat, 15 Nov 2003
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 The Calgary Sun
Contact:  http://www.fyicalgary.com/calsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67
Author: Bill Kaufmann

PROVINCE TARGETS METH

Solicitor General Pushes Controls Of Certain Chemicals To Fight Scourge

To head off an explosion of crystal meth trafficking, Alberta's solicitor 
general is calling for a crackdown on a popular cold remedy and chemicals 
used to produce the potent drug.

Fresh from a three-day U.S. information tour on the scourge of 
methamphetamine, Heather Forsyth is pushing to criminalize the possession 
of certain chemicals.

And Forsyth said she'd also meet with the pharmaceutical industry in hopes 
the sale of Sudafed will be monitored and restricted voluntarily by retailers.

"If people are buying 100 packs of Sudafed, they've either got a hell of a 
headache, or they're cooking (crystal meth)," said Forsyth.

Hearing first-hand the horrors of methamphetamine production and use in the 
U.S. has convinced her of the need to be more pro-active in stemming its 
spread here, she said.

ALBERTA AT FOREFRONT OF FIGHT

And the province's creation of a task force, to bring together a wide range 
of stakeholders to fight the drug, has put Alberta ahead of other 
jurisdictions, said Forsyth.

"We're at the forefront, absolutely -- (The Americans) said without 
question, we're well ahead," she said in an interview yesterday.

But police in Alberta have voiced strong fears the highly-addictive form of 
speed will soon ravage the province's larger cities.

Forsyth herself said the concerns have some merit, citing the alarms raised 
by mayors of smaller centres who report a growing number of crystal meth 
labs in their areas.

"We have a problem with crystal meth, a problem with labs and it's growing.

"You're always playing mental gymnastics to keep ahead of it," she added.

Of particular concern, she said, are children of users or of those who cook 
up the substance -- an extremely toxic, flammable process.

"(In the U.S.), we saw pictures of this little girl who'd been severely 
burned by the chemicals.

" It's very sad."

"We have to send a clear message to the meth users and labs we won't stand 
for it."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart