Pubdate: Thu, 02 Nov 2006
Source: Hope Standard (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Hope Standard
Contact:  http://www.hopestandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1397

RESEARCH IN THE VALLEY SHIFTS TO METH

The Fraser Valley Is Getting Ready to Tackle the Community Challenge 
of Crystal Meth With a Little Hard Science.

The City of Chilliwack is teaming up with University College of the 
Fraser Valley researchers to determine what tools in the global fight 
against meth have been most successful.

"I think the extent of the (meth lab) problem in B.C. is probably 
much more significant than it has ever been," UCFV RCMP research 
chair Darryl Plecas said. "There's even some concern about the 
likelihood that we'll see more of them."

Plecas captured headlines across Canada in 2002 as lead researcher 
for a cutting-edge study showing grow-ops were popping up more in 
B.C.'s rural areas and moving away from larger city centres.

The extent of marijuana grow-ops, as well as the enforcement and 
prevention models have become well-known, he argued, but the same 
cannot be said about the murky underworld of meth labs, which are 
often much harder to detect.

As municipalities tighten up laws to prevent grow-ops from being set 
up, some of those criminals may switch into meth production.

"All one needs to do is take a stroll to the Downtown Eastside to 
understand why no penalty is serious enough for these people. Those 
engaged in the production of meth in super labs, if it were me, I 
would be giving them life imprisonment for causing so much hurt and 
so much harm, to so many people for so long."

He estimates victims are into the "tens of thousands."

"What's really frightening about meth labs -- aside from the hazards 
and risk of explosion, fire and toxic chemicals -- is the nature of 
the individuals who tend to be involved."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine