Pubdate: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 The Lethbridge Herald Contact: http://www.mysouthernalberta.com/leth/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239 Author: Sherri Gallant, Lethbridge Herald Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) Crystal Meth Task Force Welcomed but Doctor Hopes Proper Treatment Used A provincial task force has been formed to lead the charge on how Alberta will deal with the growing problem of crystal meth abuse. But Dr. Bill Tatton, a neurologist and professor with a specialty on the effects of crystal meth on the brain, will not be part of the group. Tatton's been lobbying the province to get serious about crystal meth since he returned to live in southern Alberta last year. In June, Tatton met with Health Minister Iris Evans to share his research and encourage formation of a task force. He was heartened by the minister's response, he said, and confident there would soon be action. "I'm pleased they've set up a task force," Tatton said Friday. "I think the crystal meth situation in this province is a mess and I hope the group comes to the right conclusions on what to do about it." The task force will be led by Colleen Klein and Dr. Robert Westbury, chairman of the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research. "Crystal meth is one of the most addictive drugs out there and one of the hardest addictions to treat," said Premier Ralph Klein. "Meth abuse affects every single Albertan. Those who have never come into contact with the drug pay the price for extra policing, health-care costs and social supports for addicts and their families. "Even more tragic is the loss of human potential, when people fall victim to this destructive drug." The task force will build on the work of AADAC and other government departments and will advise on government strategies. Task force members will bring a variety of experience and expertise to the table in the areas of public health, aboriginal communities, policing, municipalities, justice, youth, addictions and community services. Other aspects of the province's strategy include a hard-hitting education campaign focused on school-age children and 24 new youth detox beds being opened this fall to treat meth addiction. Tatton, who lives near Fort Macleod with his wife and fellow scientist Nadine, has worked at Stanford University, University of Calgary, University of Toronto and Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He's developed an expertise on the effects of heroin, cocaine and crystal meth on the brain. He worries a lack of information can lead to strategies that treat crystal meth addiction in a similar way to alcoholism. "Detox centres are designed for alcohol abuse," he said. "Alcohol is excreted in about 72 hours." Crystal meth, on the other hand, takes 30 to 45 days to clear the body. "The meth goes into the cells and binds to proteins," Tatton explained. "You have to wait for those proteins to turn over. During the acute phase, they have flashbacks and go psychotic. They can be dangerous." Crystal meth addiction must be treated primarily as a medical problem, Tatton says, and when addicts enter treatment they need complete medical workups. They can have brain damage, kidney and liver damage, rotting teeth and skin problems. "You can't counsel people out of this," he said. "Not at first, anyway. It's more like epilepsy than alcoholism. It's more like Alzheimer's than alcoholism." Tatton is working with more than two dozen teens and young adults who are in stages of withdrawal. He says the long-term success rate is about 50 per cent. "They get off it for about 30 days and they go back on. Some don't. I'm trying to figure out what's different between the ones who do and those who don't." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake