Pubdate: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Ian Bailey, CanWest News Service Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) B.C. TARGETS CRYSTAL ADDICTION 8-Million Funding Increase Split Between Treatment Options And Beds For Addicted Youth Crystal-meth addiction will be a key target today as the B.C. government announces $8 million in new funding for meth treatment options and youth addictions services. The money, to be distributed across six health authorities, is new funding. A total of $2 million will be targeted at crystal meth treatment programs while $6 million is devoted to youth addictions treatment. Health Minister George Abbott is to link the new funds to a 75 per cent increase in the number of treatment beds for youth addicts. Under the plan, the new money will bring the total number of addictions treatment beds in B.C. to 1,038 with 158 focused on youth. The spending continues B.C. Liberal efforts to deal with a substance Premier Gordon Campbell has described as a "dirty, filthy drug" that "ruins people's lives." Crystal meth is one of the street names for methamphetamine, an addictive stimulant easily and cheaply made from store-bought goods. It produces an extended, extreme high, but is very addictive and can cause brain damage. Since last September, the Liberals have announced $9 million in anti-meth funding. At the annual convention of the Union of B.C. Municipalities last September, Campbell promised a $7-million meth strategy that included a $3-million public-awareness campaign, $2 million for treatment programs and $2 million for communities. Last month, Finance Minister Carole Taylor pledged $2 million over three years to a Crystal Meth Secretariat to co-ordinate efforts to quell the production and use of crystal meth. Now the province is committing $2 million ongoing annually as well as the $6 million for larger youth addictions issues. Today's new money is headed in two key directions. A total of $6 million is being aimed at increasing the capacity of treatment services for youth and to develop new services. And $2 million is being earmarked for so-called "targeted treatment programs," such as individual and group counselling, and supporting recovery for meth users and their families. Today's announcements also include the launch of a web-based pool of information on crystal meth -- www.methfacts.org. The site is supposed to provide access to information not now easily available from one source. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman