Pubdate: Sat, 04 Mar 2006
Source: Cowichan News Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Cowichan News Leader
Contact:  http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1314
Author: Angie Poss
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

METH WATCH PROGRAM AIMED AT PRODUCTION

Curbing production of crystal meth is the goal of a new program being 
unveiled in the Cowichan Valley this week.

Community Policing volunteers begin rolling out Meth Watch on 
Tuesday, a voluntary program that helps retailers prevent suspicious 
purchases and the theft of the ingredients used to manufacture crystal meth.

Meth Watch will be introduced in stores ranging from pharmacies to 
feed and hardware stores and gas stations. Meth is a highly toxic 
cocktail of ingredients including: ephedrine, which is found in cold 
medications; iodine; fertilizer and brake fluid.

Meth Watch takes aim at people buying unusually large quantities of 
products that are used to make crystal meth without restricting 
legitimate purchases. Part of the program focuses on reducing theft 
of meth ingredients.

"We don't want to lose the momentum and interest shown at the meth 
forum," said Carol-Ann Rolls of Community Policing. "Now is the time 
to get involved."

Volunteers will begin visiting between 60 and 70 businesses on 
Tuesday, distributing information packages, signs and giving 
businesses tips to train their staff to recognize suspicious sales.

The program is designed to be easy, quick and free for businesses to 
participate in, said Const. Darren Lagan of the North Cowichan/ Duncan RCMP.

"This requires very little of businesses but can have a large benefit 
for the community," he said.

But Meth Watch may not ultimately impact the amount of meth available 
as much as organizers hope.

While thefts and large purchases of the ingredients for meth from 
stores is seen as a major source of the drug in the United States, 
the Canadian trend is different, said Solicitor-General John Les in a 
January interview.

"In B.C. we don't have much indication of that at all. Here it seems 
the precursors are being brought in in bulk form from offshore," said Les.

"In any given year in Canada 100,000 kilograms of ephedrine are 
brought into the country. Only about 30 per cent of that is required 
for legitimate purposes."

He's calling on the federal government to tighten regulations around 
the importing of ephedrine.

"They need to step up more forcefully to help us stem that tide," said Les.

While programs like Meth Watch may ultimately have only a small 
effect on that tide, Les applauds the role they play in making 
communities aware of the meth problem. "Public awareness is crucial 
to winning this battle," he said.

Getting the community involved in the fight against meth is exactly 
what Rolls hopes to accomplish with Meth Watch.

"We want the community to be aware. We don't want meth to become as 
large a problem in our community as it is in other communities," she said.

Anyone interested in more information can call the Community Policing 
office at 701-9146.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom