Pubdate: Thu, 06 Jan 2005 Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2005 The StarPhoenix Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400 Author: Darren Bernhardt and James Wood, The StarPhoenix GOV'T LOST ON METH ISSUE, WALL SAYS Opposition Develops Educational Materials About Effects Of Drug The Calvert government is completely lost when it comes to tackling the growing problem of crystal meth addiction, says Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall. He came out swinging at the provincial NDP during a Saskatoon press conference, accusing it of being "cavalier" in its approach "while people get addicted, while families are torn apart and in some case, while lives are lost. "Crystal meth is becoming a major drug problem in Saskatchewan and the government needs to deal with it now, but it has no idea what it's doing," said Wall, who distributed a collection of quotes from government MLAs that he says reveal contradictions in their stance on the drug. Learning Minister Andrew Thomson is quoted in Hansard as saying the government has a strategy in place. A month later he told the Regina Leader-Post, "there shouldn't be a separate strategy." Health Minister John Nilson has said his government has worked on a meth strategy for almost seven years, prompting Wall to wonder how much longer it will take. "Our message today to the government, hopefully that they'll listen to, is that crystal meth isn't going to wait for the NDP and neither is the Saskatchewan Party. Being in opposition we may not have the resources available to the government . . . but we can lobby and we will." He saluted his own MLAs June Draude, Brenda Bakken and Ted Merriman for raising awareness of the drug. Merriman recently went public with his daughter's struggle with meth, while Draude and Bakken have lobbied the NDP to educate people by publishing a poster identifying the ingredients used to make meth. That way, retailers would be tipped when someone makes bulk purchases of certain products, such as propane tanks and ephedrine. It would also make parents better informed about what to look for if they are concerned their children might be involved, said Wall. "Many retailers have welcomed it in other jurisdictions. The pharmacies in our province and across Canada have said these posters are a good idea," he said. "How difficult would it be for the government to simply do that?" The Sask. Party has assembled educational materials for anyone who wants to be enlightened about the drug. Draude has developed a PowerPoint presentation which has been viewed in about five Saskatchewan schools, primarily in her Kelvington-Wadena riding. Nilson told reporters at the legislature that the NDP will release its crystal meth strategy probably by the end of January. He noted the drug is already incorporated in an education program in schools, Community Resources case workers look for it during the course of their work and it is dealt with in the Health Department's addictions programs. Steps taken in the future will likely be aimed at curbing the availability of ingredients and improving addiction treatment through regional health authorities. "There may be some specific concerns around how to rehabilitate people involved with crystal meth. We know . . . that the length of time required is dramatically longer than for many other substances. We don't yet have entirely clear evidence as to what those treatment processes are," said Nilson, adding officials are studying the experiences of other jurisdictions. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek