Pubdate: Fri, 08 Jul 2005
Source: Chilliwack Progress (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Chilliwack Progress
Contact:  http://www.theprogress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/562
Author: Robert Freeman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

FORUM TO REVEAL THE MYTH ABOUT METH TO TEENS

Chilliwack is hosting a community forum on methamphetamines in late
August or early September aimed at alerting teenagers to the dangers
of the drug, which costs little and lasts long.

The city is also looking at setting up a meth watch" program in an
attempt to control the household ingredients used to make crystal meth.

City councillor Sharon Gaetz, public safety committee chair, says
teenagers don't realize the damage they are doing to their
still-developing brains as the drug physically and permanently alters
neurological pathways.

Making matters worse, she says crystal meth has become trendy among
teenage girls as a weight-control method.

Coun. Gaetz says she was shocked to overhear the way young girls were
talking about meth in a local change room recently.

They were going to start selling (meth) to their friends because it's
such a great way to lose weight," she says. It's really scary because
they don't have all the facts."

Getting the facts to them will be the aim of educators and former teen
users at the forum.

There's some issues of danger as well that we need to address," Coun.
Gaetz says, as clandestine meth labs can explode, putting neighbours
at risk and firefighters at house fires.

The meth watch" program enlists pharmacies and other sources of the
ingredients that make up crystal meth to report who is buying the
chemicals, how frequently and how much they are buying.

Coun. Chuck Stam says crystal meth is a community issue, it's not just
a policing issue" and it's something that we have to get ahead of
really quickly."

A similar forum was held recently at the Seabird Island reserve to
combat the rise of crystal meth use among aboriginal youth. City forum
organizers will ask Seabird Island officials for their support.

Coun. Gaetz says she also wants to ask former Chilliwack-Kent MLA John
Les, now B.C.'s Solicitor General, about a provincial strategy to
combat crystal meth.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin