HIT METH FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES, SAY RESEARCHERS

The multi-pronged community approach is the proven way to go in the
battle against methamphetamine, says UCFV criminology researcher
Darryl Plecas.

He's one of the three authors of the just-released report, 'Responding to
the Dangers of Methamphetamine: Towards Informed Practices'.

The new document is being shared with communities across B.C. and
features ideas on how to raise more awareness about the harmful street
drug and innovative recommendations on prevention.

"It's never just one thing as a standalone solution," Plecas offered.
"It's where communities have taken the multi-faceted approach to the
problem that they're started to see results."

B.C. has used the exact same approach for targeting marijuana
grow-ops, he points out.

"Around the globe, and across Canada we've seen incredible increases
in the number of grow-ops. But B.C. is the only place that's
distinctly different in that regard, and it appears to have chopped
its numbers in half," he said.

"So we've said meth is not just a police concern, but also other
partners in a community like fire departments, B.C. Hydro, Crown
counsel, municipalities and more.

"If we take a broader approach, let's get into the question of civil
forfeiture, which has been spectactularly successful in terms in the
seizing of property and assets as the profits of crime," he said.

The new meth report was commissioned by the city, and written by UCFV
criminology researcher Darryl Plecas, and colleagues Amanda McCormick
and Irwin Cohen.

Crime experts have had a difficult time convincing the courts to "boot
up" the consequences and jail terms for crystal meth production and
trafficking, he noted.

"In hindsight we should have gotten the message out that we're not
here to punish anyone, we're actually trying to increase awareness
about the associated harms," he said.

Plecas credited City of Chilliwack officials for allowing the
parameters of the research to include broad-based recommendations for
other communities fighting meth.

"It's an example of good citizenship to have us construct the report
in a way that still meets Chilliwack's needs, but also those of
municipalities in other jurisdictions that are seeking best practices
in this area."

The multi-pronged approach is "precisely" how Chillliwack's mayor and
council went about tackling crystal meth, using key partnerships
forged in their public-safety, health and social-issues committees,
Plecas added.

"All of a sudden, all kinds of great ideas come up when you take that
approach and all kinds of partners can be included," he offered.

The report also included recommendations for more prevention research,
program accountability, to calls for new housing bylaw legislation to
seize meth-contaminated properties, or to protect drug-endangered
children living in meth labs.