Pubdate: Sun, 17 Dec 2006
Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352
Author: Jennifer Dyck
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

COMMUNITY TAKES AIM AT METH

Editor's note: This is the third, and final article in  a series on
crystal methamphetamine, aimed at educating  the public and raising
awareness about the drug.

A dash of paint thinner, pour in some iodine, a splash  of ether and
mix in some hydrochloric acid and you've  got just some of the
ingredients to cook up a life  sentence to meth.

These are only a few of the toxic components combined  to make crystal
methamphetamine.

The ingredients are concerning when you consider that  people actually
snort, smoke, inject or eat the final  product for a euphoric high.
But the preparation of  making this drug is also a major concern.

"Every stage of crystal meth production is volatile,"  said Lisa
Levesque, co-ordinator for the North Okanagan  Crystal Meth Prevention
and Awareness Project.

With the ease of production, often taking up minimal  space, meth can
be cooked up anywhere. Meth labs, also  known as synthetic clandestine
labs, are in homes, but  can exist in confined spaces such as a car
trunk. They  can be easily set up and produce product within a few
days and subsequent batches with only a 20-minute  turnaround time.

In these labs there is not only the potential for  explosion, but also
the dangers that the ingredients  bring to the area.

"The air that the cook breathes is poisonous," said  Levesque, adding
that not only is the cook at harm, but  so is anyone else in the home,
including children  living there.

"Imagine what the children's organs look like as a  result of being in
the same room as those vapours?"  said Rachael Neuhaus, Vernon
Community Policing Office  co-ordinator.

Those same chemical vapours that enter people's lungs,  also seep into
every fabric of the house or whatever  space being used to produce
it.

The result is that once these labs are uncovered, the  homes often
must be condemned or torn down, said  Levesque.

"It's just like a hazard spill," she said, noting that  it is very
costly to clean up these places.

There are also hazards to the environment, as each  kilogram of meth
produced equals five to seven  kilograms of chemical waste.

In an attempt to discard the evidence of a lab,  Levesque said it
isn't uncommon to see that waste  dumped down the drains, into the
backyard or wherever  possible.

A major concern of all of this, is that these explosive  labs can
exist anywhere - in a home down the street,  storage facility, camper,
hotel, vehicle, trailer,  vacant buildings and even remote outdoor
sites.

The good news for North Okanagan residents is the RCMP  haven't
uncovered a meth lab here, according to Const.  Brian Evans with the
Vernon RCMP drug task force.

"But," he adds, "that doesn't mean there isn't one."

Meth clandestine labs actually make up 60 per cent of  chemical labs
in Canada, with ecstasy labs making up 15  per cent.

Locally the community is keeping its eyes open for  early signs of
such labs.

Through the Meth Watch Program, some local retailers,  such as
hardware stores where meth ingredients can be  found, are watching for
and questioning large purchases  of meth ingredients.

Although more retailers, including pharmacies, need to  join the
watch, Neuhaus said it is an excellent  program.

"That's community policing at its best. They're trying  to do their
due diligence to make a safe community for  us all."

Const. Evans also advises residents to watch for the  following signs
of a meth lab.

"If you're seeing some of the glass beakers and funky  glass tubes
that should be flashing alarm bells for  you."

Other detectors include excessive amounts of cold  medicine tablet
containers, unusual odors such as heavy  solvents or stale urine,
heavily secured doors and  covered windows, jars containing clear
liquid with a  white coloured solid on the bottom, large amounts of
stripped lithium batteries and propane tanks with  fittings that have
turned blue.
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MAP posted-by: Derek