METH DRIVING FORCE BEHIND CRIMES, NEW SURVEY SAYS

Prisoners Report High Use Rates

A unique survey of youth and adult prisoners in Victoria shows
crystal methamphetamine is a driving force behind crimes in B.C.'s capital.

Nearly half of the youth surveyed over a three-month period reported
using meth, as did 62 per cent of the adults.

Slightly more than 40 per cent of the adults reported that they
committed crimes to support their meth addictions. Fourteen per cent
of the youth said meth motivated their criminality.

"I didn't think we were going to have as high a number who said
they'd used the drug," said Const. Brad

Fraser, chairman of the enforcement pillar of School District 61's
anti-meth community task force.

The anonymous, voluntary survey is the first of its kind in B.C.,
Fraser said. Seventy-nine youths and 93 adults took part.

Among the youth, 16.5 per cent said they committed crimes while high,
88.6 per cent said they used other drugs, including cocaine and
ecstasy, and 11.4 per cent said they had a mental disorder.

Of the adults, 55.9 per cent committed crimes while high, 84.9 per
cent admitted using other drugs, and 33 per cent said they had a
mental disorder.

The mental-disorder figures are especially disturbing, Fraser said,
because meth can induce psychosis and paranoia and lead to lifelong
mental-health problems such as schizophrenia.

Hallucinating and combative meth addicts are also difficult to deal
with from a policing perspective, he added.

"It's a drug. If you use it for a long period of time you're more
prone to violent, delusional behaviour," Fraser said.

The young people noted that the top three methods of keeping them
away from crystal meth are positive social influences, counselling
and treatment -- and leaving Victoria.

"What speaks most clearly to me, based on the information gathered
through the program and survey, is the urgent need for treatment and
counselling services for crystal meth users," said crystal meth
Victoria society president Mark McLaughlin.

There are only five youth-specific rehab beds on Vancouver island.