Pubdate: Thu, 06 Jan 2005 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2005 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Author: Darren Bernhardt and James Wood, Saskatchewan News Network Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) NDP BLASTED FOR LACK OF CRYSTAL METH STRATEGY SASKATOON -- The Calvert government is completely lost when it comes to addressing the growing problem of crystal meth addiction in Saskatchewan, says Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall. At a Saskatoon news conference he came out swinging at the provincial NDP for being "cavalier" over the issue "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 contradicting themselves in regard to their stance on the drug. Learning Minister Andrew Thomson is quoted in Hansard, the legislative record, as stating the government has a strategy in place. A month later he told the 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 long it takes. "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 it, 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 buys bulk purchases of certain products, such as propane tanks and ephedrine. It would also make parents better informed about what to look out for if they are concerned their children might be involved, said Wall. "Many retailers have welcomed it (the posters) 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?" Wall denied such a poster could also be viewed as detrimental as an instruction manual. "We can't hide. We have to start talking about it," he said. "If they're buying these things, they already know about it." The Sask. Party has assembled educational materials for anyone who wants to be enlightened about the drug. Draude has developed a power-point 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 it is already part of the drug education program in schools, its use is looked for by community resources caseworkers, 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 that officials are studying the experiences of other jurisdictions. Wall announced a five-point plan assembled by the Sask. Party which he encouraged the NDP to adopt. It consists of education and public awareness measures -- providing families, communities and schools with literature to better inform them of the drug, its consequences and how to combat it. It also urges the NDP to immediately implement a crystal meth-specific strategy distinct from other street drugs. It should include an awareness program that is mandated for use in schools. While all drugs are dangerous, crystal meth poses a particular threat because it can be made almost anywhere from common household products and is highly addictive, dangerous and cheap, Wall said. The third point in the party's plan is the need for improved treatment, such as an addictions program aimed at children, centres that treat meth users for longer periods since it stays in the system nearly a full year, safe houses for at-risk individuals waiting to get into treatment centres, and family counselling. Wall also wants an independent addictions foundation created, not one wrapped into another government department. And finally, the federal government must be pressured to give police more teeth in enforcing the drug laws. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek