Pubdate: Wed, 30 Nov 2005
Source: Eckville Echo (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Eckville Echo
Contact:  http://www.eckvilleecho.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4039
Author: Treena Mielke
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

HIGHLY ADDICTIVE DRUG A LIFE SENTENCE

The majority of crimes are drug related, a crowd of about 50 people who 
attended a meeting in Benalto were told.

"About 85 per cent of all crimes are drug related," said Cpl. Duncan 
Babchuk from the Sylvan Lake RCMP, who spoke at the Benalto Rural Crime 
Watch Society meeting Thursday.

Babchuk's presentation focused on crystal methamphetamine, a highly 
addictive drug which is becoming increasingly popular. The drug is 
concocted into a toxic cocktail using household cleaners, paint thinner, 
ammonia, lithium from batteries and certain cold medications. It can be 
ingested in two forms -- crystal or 'ice' form, and powder form -- and is 
usually smoked. It acts quickly and destroys the pleasure centres of the 
brain, so that with long-term use, the only thing that provides the user a 
sense of relief is the drug itself. Prolonged use also causes skin lesions 
and teeth to fall out.

"The very first time you try it you're hooked," he said. "It has about four 
times the effect of cocaine and keeps people high for a longer period of 
time. And the first time you smoke it, it causes permanent brain damage. 
It's a life sentence if I ever saw one."

Babchuk warned the farmers in attendance that anyone who is stealing from 
their property to buy drugs, will take anything that isn't nailed down. He 
added drug users, desperate to get money for a fix, can be violent.

While Babchuk stressed the drug problem in this area is no better or worse 
than anywhere else, he cautioned rural residents to be proactive.

"If all of a sudden you see people move in and notice all kinds of traffic, 
get on that phone. I don't care, call collect."

"Call collect, if you call us," he said. "I have no problem taking a phone 
call."

Blacked out windows and people who exclusively use cash are other warning 
signs, he said. Garbage that has been dumped where there is a crystal meth 
lab is contaminated and should only be picked up by authorized personnel.

Babchuk also cautioned those who have anhydrous ammonia tanks on their 
property to be aware of theft as ammonia is used to make the drug. He said 
the ammonia is often collected in propane tanks. It takes about five or six 
gallons of hydrogen ammonia to manufacture crystal meth.

"If you see propane tanks in the ditch or on the property, give us a call. 
Don't handle them on your own. And if you see footprints leading up to your 
tank give us a call."

The RCMP officer said it's important people are aware of the seriousness of 
the drug and how easily accessible it is.

"You can make it right here, right in Benalto," he said.

Ric Henderson, protective services director for Red Deer County, also spoke 
at the meeting about preventing crime by being proactive.

"Look after your property and make it uninviting for criminals," he said. 
"Think like a criminal -- if I broke into this place, how would I get out 
of here? Criminals are lazy, they are looking for a crime of opportunity."

Henderson said Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, an approach 
to crime prevention based on principles that can be applied easily and 
inexpensively to remodeling or building, has been adopted by the county.

This year the program focused on visiting businesses within the county to 
provide information about crime prevention. Henderson said he is budgeting 
to continue the program and focus on residential visits next year.
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