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. 
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