SOLICITOR GENERAL TAKES AIM AT CRYSTAL METH

Prevention of crystal meth use is a million times better than cure,
said Solicitor General John Les at a crystal meth forum last Thursday
held at the Filberg Centre.

"Crystal meth is the most evil, nastiest drug out there. If you're on
crystal meth for just a little while, it can do terrible, terrible
things to a person's brain and a person's body, much of it
irreversible. That's what's so tragic," Les said.

Crystal meth experts Angela Marshall and Terry Waterhouse gave the
forty-plus audience information about crystal meth use while
representatives from the Vancouver Island Health Authority and the
Comox Valley Mental Health and Addiction Services were available to
answer questions.

Crystal meth expert Angela Marshall, an addictions therapist in
Mission B.C., confirmed that the long-term effects of use range from
insomnia and depression to permanent brain damage and psychosis.

This is because the drug is 'cooked' from a range of ordinary
household ingredients such as bleach, brick scrubber, the red
phosphorous from a match striker, lithium battery acid.

All are corrosive substances causing internal damage to the brain,
liver and central nervous system.

Most of the ingredients needed for 'cooking' crystal meth are
inexpensive and easy to obtain, making it cheap to produce.

A single hit can be bought for $5. The end product looks like crystal
or glass but can be ground into powder or even pressed into colourful
tablets that look like candy.

RCMP Insp. Tom Gray said in an interview that there is some evidence
of crystal meth use in the valley.

"We're seeing more and more signs that crystal meth is around and
available. People we meet on our patrol appear to be under the
influence of something like crystal meth and sometimes there's
bizarre behaviours that can be attributed to that type of abuse.
We're also having some seizures of drugs like ecstasy that contain
crystal meth."

"There's also been thefts of batteries. The lithium gel within these
batteries is a precursor for the making of crystal meth. Those types
of things are indicators that there's a good chance that there's a
lab somewhere in the valley."

Audience member Miranda Blomquist, a youth alcohol and drug outreach
worker with the John Howard Society agreed that there is definitely
crystal meth addiction in the valley, but educating youth about the
consequences of abuse would enable them to make better choices.

Solicitor General John Les assured the audience that the $7-million
initiative announced by Premier Gordon Campbell in October 2005 is
being used to combat the spread of crystal meth use and addiction.

Educating youth about the consequences of crystal meth use is high on
the agenda, along with pressuring the government to give stronger
sentences to those who make and traffic the drug. Les also wants to
see civil forfeiture of profits made by these career criminals.

There are some factors that make youth less likely to take crystal
meth. Terry Waterhouse, from the school of criminology and criminal
justice at University College of the Fraser Valley has studied the
drug habits of 13,000 students at 21 schools in B.C. His research
found that youth who feel valued at home, at school and within their
community, are four times less likely to take crystal meth. Building
strong, vibrant communities is crucial in combating crystal meth use,
Waterhouse said.

In response to one audience member's plea for easily accessible,
rehab programs the panel highlighted the following local organizations:

Comox Valley Mental Health andAddiction Services, 941c England
Avenue, Courtenay, 338 9777

St Josepth's Hospital Substance Abuse Intervention Program, 339 1573

Comox Valley Recovery Centre, 338 7144