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.