Pubdate: Thu, 02 Nov 2006
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Jeff Nagel
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

COMMUNITIES WANT ACTION ON CRYSTAL METH

Tougher sentencing of crystal meth lab operators and  more intrusive 
measures to catch them when they buy  precursor chemicals are 
urgently needed, delegates to  the Union of B.C. Municipalities 
convention heard this  week.

Terrace Coun. Rich McDaniel said a meth lab was busted  within 300 
metres of both Terrace City Hall and the  RCMP detachment but its 
operators were sentenced this  month to probation only.

"They didn't even get a damn fine," he told a crystal  meth 
strategies forum. "There's no deterrent."

McDaniel also pressed for even earlier efforts to bring  anti-drug 
messaging to elementary school children.

"Grade 4 is the time to reach them," he said, adding  waiting until 
Grade 6 is too late.

Sparwood Mayor David Wilks said B.C. should follow the  lead of 
Montana, which requires all hardware stores to  require 
identification and collect names of customers  who buy meth components.

A registration system for consumers would go far beyond  the existing 
Meth Watch program used in some B.C.  cities in which retailers 
voluntarily watch for  large-scale buying of precursors and alert 
police when  they see it.

The meth session came on the heels of an announcement  by the 
province that another $3 million will be spent  on school-focused 
programs to battle meth. A year  earlier Victoria unveiled a $7 
million plan to combat  meth addiction.

But Mark McLaughlin, one of the organizers of  Victoria's crystal 
meth task force, said the province  hasn't yet rolled out its 
promised programs in the  schools.

"September has come and gone and we have yet to see  it," he said. 
"Every day that goes by without kids  getting this important 
information is another day that  a child runs the risk of being 
exposed to crystal  meth."

McLaughlin said the province has made a start but must  do more.

View Royal Coun. Andrew Britton, also a paramedic, put  much of the 
meth abuse epidemic at the feet of the  province, saying it can be 
traced to Victoria's track  record on handling the mentally ill, and 
in cutting  back health care, homeless shelters and low-cost  housing.

Some delegates urged cabinet ministers to consider  measures to pull 
young addicts off the street for a  mandatory five days of detox.

But Attorney-General Wally Oppal said that would likely  violate 
constitutional protections.

Public Safety Minister John Les said crystal meth  addicts must want 
to get off the drug, and evidence  shows forced treatment doesn't work.

Les rejected suggestions from Kamloops council that  cities need more 
power to crack down on drug houses. He  said plenty of tools exist 
that towns may not  adequately use, such as vigorous enforcement of 
unsightly premises bylaws if there are upkeep problems.

Les called a suspected drug house in Kamloops an "ideal  candidate" 
for that treatment based on a photo he was  shown.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman