CRYSTAL METH COULD BECOME MIDDLE BRITAIN'S CRACK COCAINE WITHIN FOUR YEARS

The Dangerous Drug Crystal Meth Could Be As Big A Problem As Crack
Cocaine Within Four Years, Research Suggests.

There are fears that Britain may witness a surge similar to that in
Australia where use of the drug spiralled in that time.

The Association of Chief Police Officers says it has been alarmed by
a rise in the use and manufacture of the Class A drug in Britain in
the past few years but the problem is still a "relatively minor one".

Crystal meth, dubbed "poor man's cocaine", is cheap to make and
popular among gay clubbers for the immediate and prolonged high it
gives when smoked.

Users can turn to ravaged addicts within months of starting the drug,
which is also known as "ice" or "Tina", and it can lead to serious
mental health problems. Paranoia, kidney failure, internal bleeding,
promiscuous sexual behaviour and violence can all result.

ACPO has produced an internal report on the problems presented by
crystal meth, a form of amphetamine which is crystallised so it can be smoked.

The synthetic drug - whose formal name is methamphetamine - is
usually found in powder form but can be taken as a tablet, snorted or
injected as well as smoked.

Detective Sergeant Andy Waite, ACPO's expert on the drug, said police
had seen "a gradual rise in the reporting of the use and
manufacturing of the drug" in the UK in the past two or three years.

He described the increased use and production in this country as
"something we are alarmed about" and which is being monitored by police.

Mr Waite told BBC Five Live that the problem in the UK is still
relatively minor, but senior officers are mindful of the huge surge
in the U.S. and Australia.

Martin Barnes, of the charity Drugscope, said: "Internationally
there's clear evidence that it can have very serious consequences for
mental and physical health. It's right that we're vigilant and
cautious, but at the same time we risk being alarmist."

The Government re-classified the drug to Class A after taking advice
from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in 2006 over
concerns that the UK was on the verge of a crystal meth explosion.

The first factory was found in 2005 and police have discovered about
half a dozen a year since.

Tim Hollis, Chief Constable of Humberside police and chairman of
ACPO's drugs committee, said: 'We are in no way complacent but we are
very alert to the dangers and closely monitoring the problem.'