Pubdate: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc Contact: http://www.mrtimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372 Author: Stephen Tipper METH SQUABBLE HITS AIRWAVES The local discussion on crystal meth made it onto the airwaves Friday morning. Mary Robson, the chair of the local Meth Task Force, and school board chair Cheryl Ashlie squared off on the Bill Good Show on CKNW on Friday. Robson, with whom Good opened the segment, argued that the $3 million from the province is a "wonderful thing." The money is for a crystal meth public awareness campaign. Crystal meth, not alcohol, can do "the most harm" with just the smallest amount of use, said Robson. But Ashlie argued that, although crystal meth is a terrible drug, alcohol is the No. 1 addictive substance students are using. However, after a few minutes into the discussion, Robson questioned Ashlie's credibility. "I just question where she's getting her information from," she said. Ashlie, once the program came back from a commercial break, said her information comes from the professionals with whom she has talked about crystal meth. After all, a little information in a politician's hands can be a dangerous thing, she said. The stats she then told the listeners pointed to alcohol being the number one drug. For example, she said most drug-related trips to the Ridge Meadows Hospital emergency room this summer involved alcohol. Methamphetamine was No. 6, she said. Ron Lawrance, executive director of Alouette Addictions, phoned in and said that the focus should not just be on crystal meth use. Ashlie has repeatedly said that crystal meth should be talked about when discussing other drugs such as alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. But Deb Appleby, former chair of the District Parent Advisory Council, supported the province's effort. She also said that parents want provincial funds to raise awareness of crystal meth, and trustees should want that, too. "We need to go after everything like this we can have," said Appleby. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine