Pubdate: Sat, 23 Jul 2005
Source: Tri-City News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005, Tri-City News
Contact:  http://www.tricitynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1239
Author: Janis Cleugh
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

WATCHING GOODS LINKED TO METH MAY BE WORKING

Port Coquitlam's month-old Meth Watch program has already seen a drop 
in sales of goods used to make the illegal drug, a city committee 
heard this week.

Jodie McNeice, PoCo's community police station manager overseeing the 
crime-prevention program, said Super Valu on Shaughnessy Street has 
reported a decline in the sale of rubbing alcohol, a key ingredient 
used to produce methamphetamine. Canadian Tire has also noted a 
decrease in meth-making products.

[Meth Watch] seems to be having an impact," McNeice told PoCo's 
protective services committee Thursday morning.

Started in Maple Ridge, Meth Watch gets retailers involved in 
monitoring the types of goods used to make meth being sold. These 
include over-the-counter medicines, starter fluids, methanol, drain 
cleaners and paint thinners. The participating businesses place Meth 
Watch stickers around the store and can refuse goods being bought in 
bulk. Staff can report suspicious purchases to a police hotline.

McNeice said the group heading PoCo's Meth Watch has met to talk 
about what more can be done to curb meth production in the community. 
In September, she said, the group plans to bring stakeholders - 
police, firefighters, health care workers, politicians, business 
owners - to the table for a workshop to discuss how to raise the 
level of awareness about the dangers of the potent narcotic.

Meanwhile, police in Port Moody met with PoCo's Meth Watch group 
Thursday to talk about starting the program in that city, said PMPD 
Const. Phil Reid.
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MAP posted-by: Beth