Pubdate: Sat, 11 Jun 2005
Source: Barrie Examiner (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2317
Author: James Wallace
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations

ONTARIO LOOKING TO SMASH CRYSTAL METH

Concern over the rampant growth of crystal meth use among teens and
pre-teens has prompted the Ontario government to develop a provincial
strategy on the dangerous and highly addictive drug.

Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter told Osprey News he has asked
the Green Tide Action Group to develop an Ontario strategy and
recommend ways to thwart the spread of the deadly drug variously known
as crank, ice, speed and Dark Crystal.

Crystal meth has become a scourge in Western Canada, but is quickly
spreading east to Ontario and Quebec, according to government and law
enforcement officials.

"This is something that is growing and growing dramatically and we
have to make sure we are prepared for it," Kwinter said in an
exclusive Osprey Media interview.

"That's why I've asked the Green Tide task force to examine it," he
said.

The Green Tide task force was created to co-ordinate efforts by
police, utilities, banks, government and other groups to respond to
Ontario's epidemic of marijuana growhouses.

Kwinter has expanded the group's mandate to include crystal meth and
said work will begin on a strategy when they meet on June 29.

"Police services across Ontario in varying degrees are finding this is
becoming more prevalent," Kwinter said. "It's something that we're
going to have to deal with."

The Hanover Post and other Osprey newspapers have documented the
insidious growth of crystal meth use in smaller and rural communities
across Ontario and the devastating impact it is having on the lives
and health of young people and other users.

Crystal meth is cooked using over-the-counter cold medication
containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, along with deadly a list of
ingredients including battery acid, brake fluid, floor stripper and
fertilizer that users usually smoke or snort.

The drug is popular among youths and in the gay club scene because it
creates an intense, long-lasting high and sexual arousal.

It is highly addictive, producing an immediate physical addiction in
80 per cent of first-time users and profound damage to the lungs,
heart and brain in long-term addicts.

Prolonged use leads to psychotic behaviour and brain damage similar to
Alzheimer's disease, stroke and epilepsy.

Crystal meth has become such a problem in western Canada that the
premiers of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are meeting in
Regina this week to develop joint strategies to deal with the shocking
growth of the drug in their jurisdictions.

The premiers are receiving a report that shows 190,000 people in
British Columbia (more than 5 per cent of that province's population)
used methamphetamine at least once in the past year and usage rates of
2.8 to four per cent in the other western provinces.

Kwinter said Ontario will monitor the findings of the Western
premiers' meeting and said he's already heard about the problems
associated with the drug from American officials.

"When I was in Minnesota, I was asking them if they were impacted by
marijuana grow ops and I sort of drew a bit of a blank," Kwinter said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin