Pubdate: Mon, 14 Nov 2005
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Prince George Citizen
Contact:  http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350
Author: Frank Peebles, Citizen Staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

METH RESULTS RELEASED

Most in the public are aware of the growing crystal meth crisis. What 
is not known is what to do about this drug with the worst combination 
of attributes: easy to make, cheap to sell, simple to disguise, 
highly potent and very addictive.

The Northern Health Authority's drug prevention coordinator Andrew 
Burton has been at the forefront of a series of forums on the 
subject. The results are back from the most recent one, a forum among 
community leaders in health, education, youth services and 
government. This forum, built on the information that came out of 
previous meetings, was aimed at identifying solutions.

Burton said one of the biggest challenges faced in the drug 
prevention cause is the old public perception that drug addicts don't 
come from nice homes or nice neighbourhoods.

"Well I don't use drugs and my kids don't use drugs, so it's not my 
problem," Burton parodied. "Well, yeah it is. You don't know what 
your neighbours are doing, so there is that aspect." He explained of 
the neighbours in one recent case study who were inhaling toxic fumes 
from a crystal meth lab next door in an otherwise common-looking home.

The other fearsome aspect Burton wants people to accept is how strong 
the addictive powers of crystal meth are. Drug experimentation is a 
generations-old fact of teenage coming-of-age, whether parents in 
"nice" homes and "nice" neighbourhoods want to admit that or not, he 
explained. The alarm bells are not about alcohol's or marijuana's 
availability on any schoolyard in the city, it is a brain-wasting, 
mood-altering, body-crippling chemical cocktail. At candyland prices, 
crystal meth makes hardcore drugs accessible to the Grade 7 budget 
and mentality.

"We must change community attitudes," Burton said. "We need people to 
rethink these problems and their solutions. They are not just the 
problems of people in the hood, or people just using, they effect 
every level of the community. Because of the cheap costs, the easy 
manufacture, the aggressive effects of crystal meth, the peripheral 
effects are affecting our taxes, driving up the cost of education, 
healthcare, the criminal justice system, it affects how safe people 
feel in their homes because the ones using are doing petty crimes to 
pay for their drug use. If my daughter can't walk down the street at 
night and feel safe, that has affected me and all my neighbours. We 
need to do something about that."

So what's it going to be, as decided by the recent forum 
participants? Burton said many of the suggestions are multifaceted 
and will require much more money and partnership-building than is 
currently available, but some are immediately possible like a media 
campaign that targets the crystal meth issue and lobbying the proper 
authorities (many of whom were represented in the room) for 
front-line treatment for crystal meth sufferers. Also, government 
must be made aware of and urged to deal with the compound effect of 
crystal meth drug use among those with mental ill health.

Burton is already working on the public awareness campaign. He is 
also establishing monthly meetings starting Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at 1705 
Third Ave for parents concerned about crystal meth. It is not a 
support group, he said, but a training session to pass on techniques 
for understanding behaviour and coping with troubling behaviour.

A lot of the issue, the forum participants said, starts with role 
models and messages received right in the home - even "nice" homes in 
"nice" neighbourhoods run by "nice" people.

"You come home from work, you've had a rough day. You have teenaged 
son or daughter and you say: 'boy I had a tough one, I need a drink.' 
What message did you just send your kids?," Burton explained. "I'm 
not saying the person who has a drink after work has a drug problem, 
but how did you just get interpreted by your kids? What happens when 
your son thinks he's having a rough day? The family message is: take 
a drug. Their drug of choice may not be alcohol."

Also planned is a chance for the general public to voice their views 
for change. A public forum is in the works to hear possible solutions 
from citizens at large.

For more information on crystal meth, call Burton at 565-6332.

[SIDEBAR]

A new program is being introduced in B.C. to more closely monitor 
bulk sales of cold medications that can be used to make crystal meth. 
The provincial government has announced a plan to work with 
pharmacists, police and retailers to cut off a potential source of 
key ingredients needed to make the deadly drug, said Prince 
George-Mount Robson MLA Shirley Bond.

"In the first phase of the plan, police, pharmacists and retailers, 
through coordinated programs like Meth Watch, will monitor closely 
for bulk sales and theft of cold medications," she said in a prepared 
statement. "If there is any evidence of misuse of retail products, 
the province will restrict the sale of these products to licensed 
pharmacies. If problems persist, B.C. will make these medications 
available by prescription only."

She warns that in some jurisdictions, meth makers have gone so far as 
to mine cough syrup and cold pills for the ingredients they need, but 
research in B.C. shows this has not become a problem here, yet.

The provincial government recently announced $7-million in funding to 
support community-based anti-meth programs, additional treatment 
resources, and an extensive public awareness and education campaign. 
According to Bond the initiative includes:

* $2-million to enhance existing treatment programs and ensure that 
professional care is available for meth-addicted youth.

* $2-million for community based programs, which will provide up to 
$10,000 in seed money to community groups and municipalities.

* $1-million for a school-based crystal meth awareness campaign.

* An additional $2-million for a broad-based public education 
campaign, to ensure that youth and their parents are aware of the 
facts about meth use and addiction.

* B.C.'s crystal meth strategy is coordinated by a new secretariat 
operating within the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
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MAP posted-by: Beth