Pubdate: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2005 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Author: Karen Brownle Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) SASKATCHEWAN MUST DO MORE TO CURB CRYSTAL METH USE: EXPERTS Questions remain about the government's sincerity for those who have called for a provincial crystal meth strategy in recent months. While pleased the government addressed public pressure for the province to act on crystal meth, advocates for a separate strategy feel the document falls short. More money and resources are needed to deal with this drug which users say is highly addictive and difficult to recover from. "I'm glad they've finally come out with it, but I'm not really satisfied with it at all," said Jean McGillivary, a former crystal meth user from Naicam. She spoke of the addictiveness of crystal meth compared to other drugs in the rotunda of the legislature last November. Addicts need a phone line to call for help rather than websites. Also, more long-term rehab beds are required as opposed to the short-term detox spaces that were announced, she said. Not putting any extra money into addressing crystal meth use, trafficking and production in the province is also a concern of McGillivray's and others. "I'm happy they've at least acknowledged the problem for the first time publicly in that way as opposed to (saying) 'Well, it can wait. It's not a crisis'," said Peter Moreau, principal of Nakoda-Oyade Education Centre at Carry the Kettle First Nation. "But I'm very displeased they are not going to put some sort of financial push behind it." Moreau felt the government was "sitting on its hands" when it came to the growing prevalence of crystal meth in the province. He is organizing a meeting for next month to inform his community about the drug and hopefully prevent people from using it. He became aware of the drug while working Turtleford in northwestern Saskatchewan. The meeting is his way of staying "ahead of the wave" that is coming to southern Saskatchewan. "What it appears to me that they (the provincial government) are doing is trying to quell the public's agitation .... I believe now the public will say 'No, we're not satisfied with just putting the regular funds there," said Moreau. The government will have to spend more money because of crystal meth, said Prince Albert mayor Jim Stiglitz. "If they would look at it long term, what this drug is costing our society in health and things like that. You have to throw money at it to get it under control somewhat," said Stiglitz. Stiglitz put forward a motion at a recent SUMA convention calling on the government to pay for more detox beds as well as education and enforcement. It was one of three crystal-meth related resolutions passed at that convention "Addictions is already stretched to their limits already with alcohol and other drugs and gambling," said Stiglitz. "Then you throw in crystal meth and emphasize it and take money out of the program, so that means somebody with a different problem loses out." Representatives for the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists were out of the office on Thursday. They have asked their members to put over-the-counter medications containing ephedrine and psuedoephedrine behind the counter if they suspect the medications are being purchased to make crystal meth. Increased scrutiny of the sale of products used to make crystal meth is mentioned in the government's strategy. The FSIN is still reviewing the document. - ---