Pubdate: Tue, 03 Aug 2004 Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc Contact: http://www.mrtimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372 Author: Tom Barnes Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) THREE-PRONGED ATTACK IN METH WAR Battle plans were drawn Thursday as Maple Ridge readies for war against crystal meth. At the meeting held in the Arts Centre and Theatre, over 100 people gathered to listen, learn and talk about the grave effects the highly addictive drug has wrought on the community. Former addicts, a mother of a 21-year-old man who lost his life in part by the drug, the RCMP, both MLAs, health authority representatives, the school district, Maple Ridge staff and council, drug treatment councillors, and everyday people who have seen the evils of crystal meth touch too close to home were on hand. "We were blown away. We figured when we started 25 (people) would be good," said Gord Robson, of the high turnout, adding the numbers are an accurate reflection of just how serious a problem crystal meth is in Maple Ridge. "Most people there came because they knew the size if the problem." One former addict who spoke said crystal meth today is rampant on the streets of Maple Ridge and people don't have to look far to see its impact. "It's just plain everywhere. Every corner I turn it's still there," the man said. The declaration of war on crystal meth was sounded by Robson's wife Mary earlier this month. She has pledged during her term as president of the Meadowridge Rotary Club she will lead the charge to combat crystal meth, something she called the "devil of all drugs." The battle will be fought on three fronts - with a trio of task forces established focusing on education, addiction treatment, and enforcement. Working with School District 42, the education committee will begin work on developing programs geared toward youth in local schools warning about the perils of becoming involved with meth. A overall public education campaign is also in the works aimed at getting the message out that Maple Ridge has a crystal meth problem. In Maple Ridge there isn't a single direct treatment or detox bed in place for a meth addict seeking help. That, too, will hopefully change as the treatment side of the task force gets down to work," said Robson. The RCMP will examine the issues surrounding enforcement and how meth dealers and users are handled within the justice system by lobbying the Solicitor General. "We as a police service recognize that meth is a problem in this community and we are committed to working to reduce and resolve the issues in conjunction with all the other committed stakeholders," said Insp. Janice Armstrong, officer in charge of the Ridge Meadows RCMP, in a prepared statement, adding work need to be done to illustrate to the courts the "immense impact" meth is having on the community. "We need to work to ensure that the sentences are appropriate to the crime," she said. Robson says the three committees will spend the next month organizing a plan of attack in preparation for a "full court press" campaign on meth to be rolled out in September. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin