Pubdate: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2004 The Lethbridge Herald Contact: http://www.mysouthernalberta.com/leth/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239 Author: Stacy O'brien Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) CRYSTAL METH USE A GROWING PROBLEM Community Forum Planned For December The drug is so easy to make that little more than a few packets of common cold remedy, some iodine and a little rubber tubing is all that is needed to produce it. Crystal meth is so addictive that over 40 per cent of people are hooked the first time they try it. It's already been found in Lethbridge, with Lethbridge regional police having had two major seizures in April and August, each time finding thousands of dollars worth of the drug. But, police expect it will get worse before it gets better. To try to prevent that from happening, about 40 community members from the City of Lethbridge, police service, detox centres, shelters and outreach programs met Wednesday at City Hall to discuss how big a problem crystal meth is in Lethbridge and talk about what to do about it. They've decided to hold a community forum the second week of December so residents and community members who help those doing drugs will know what they're dealing with. Susan Canning, with AADAC, said she expects 100 to 150 people to attend the forum -- everyone from front-line workers and business people to parents. Canning, who helped organize the Wednesday meeting, said it was the beginning of getting all of the groups working together. The meeting was the first step in helping determine how big a problem crystal meth is, what gaps there are and how to deal with those gaps. "We're trying to get a handle on how significant it is and what we can do as a community," Canning said. "Truly this drug is not one agency's domain. It has to be a collaborative effort. We certainly can't ignore it or pretend it's not here." Crystal meth -- also known as ice or glass -- is a drug that comes in powder or rock form. Sgt. Wes Houston, of the Lethbridge regional police organized crime section, said until last year they didn't see crystal meth in Lethbridge although it was a problem in the Hinton area. But, he said over the past year crystal meth cases went from three per cent of drug cases to 25 per cent. In January, the Lethbridge regional police started a campaign to prevent local retailers from becoming unwitting suppliers of the ingredients needed to create crystal meth. Police have printed up pamphlets to distribute to store keepers and others on what items are used to produce the drug. Makers will typically buy large quantities of the over-the-counter cold medications and extract the drug using chemicals or solvents such as iodine, brake cleaner, camp stove fuel, rubbing alcohol, drain cleaner, gas-line antifreeze or paint-thinner. Crystal meth makers are after ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in many name brand and generic non-drowsy allergy and cold remedies. "It's the fastest growing drug on the street, second only to crack cocaine," Houston said, adding he expects it will be the number one drug soon. "This is a good time to have this forum. We need to have it now before (the use of this drug) grows." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek