METH POLLUTION FEARED

Chemicals May End Up In Water, Land

Lessons from the U.S. experience with crystal meth has Alberta
bracing for possible land and water contamination from the toxic brew
of chemicals used to make the highly addictive drug.

The province has been keeping watch for an environmental fallout
since the illegal drug surged in popularity here a few years ago.

Methamphetamine is manmade, concocted from household chemicals and
solvents such as drain cleaner and paint thinner to extract its key
ingredient -- ephedrine -- from over-the-counter cold and allergy
medications. For every kilogram of meth created, about five times as
much hazardous waste is produced, said Janet McLean, manager of
pesticides and waste for Alberta Environment.

"This is a chemical produced with a lot of hazardous material," she
said. "Certainly a lot of other jurisdictions are having problems."

Although addiction to meth has become a serious problem in Alberta,
the province hasn't experienced the epidemic seen in parts of the
United States. A 2005 national drug use survey showed roughly 10
million Americans over the age of 12 have used methamphetamine at least once.

In addition to the addictions and overdoses, meth poses a health risk
to police officers dismantling drug labs, and an environmental risk
to water and land when the waste is flushed or dumped.

California has recorded about 2,000 contamination cleanups related to
meth, McLean said.

In British Columbia, which has seen the largest use of the drug in
Canada, 40 toxic instances have occurred.

Alberta, on the other hand, has uncovered only four contamination
cases tied to meth production.

"The question has been, what if it's happening here?" McLean said.
"Where is it going?"

Police have pondered this question, too.

Last year's Alberta criminal intelligence report warned: "Chemicals
used in the manufacturing process are secretly and improperly
disposed of, draining into the ground and water system."

Edmonton's water supplier took heed.

In January 2005, Epcor began checking for traces of meth in city
water. The testing was part of a larger initiative to monitor for the
presence of prescription drugs in Alberta rivers.

"We have looked for meth, but we haven't found any," said Les Gammie,
the water utility's director of quality assurance.

"There's likely not a lot of contamination happening."

The City of Calgary also tests its water for pharmaceuticals, but not
for illegal drugs, said Mei Chen of the water resources department.
That may change down the road, she added.

Meth has been more prevalent in Edmonton than Calgary. It's also
become widely used in rural communities, particularly among teenagers.

And while marijuana and cocaine remain more popular, the U.S.
experience with meth has caused the Alberta government to worry that
a similar epidemic might surface here.

In September, the Premier's Task Force on Crystal Meth delivered a
report with 83 recommendations for addressing Alberta's meth problem.
Included in the list was the suggestion of creating specialized
courts to offer treatment to some convicted drug users.

The report also called for more treatment beds, improved drug
education for youngsters, and more police resources targeting meth.

The recommendations are under review.