'COMPLETE SOCIAL PLAN' CRITICAL IN WAR ON CRYSTAL METH

Efforts by groups like the fledgling Crystal Meth Victoria Society are
laudable but amount to just a drop in the bucket of what is needed,
says street minister Al Tysick.

"We need a complete social plan and that is an expensive plan," a
frustrated Tysick told a three-month update meeting of the meth
society's (Greater Victoria) School District 61 task force.

"We have been happy as front-line providers to get crumbs off same the
table. I want to mention a great crumb, the sobering centre that we
worked so hard to get is a piece of the puzzle.

"Another piece of the puzzle is a possible safe injection site. But
we're not talking as a community together about a complete social plan
that would solve some of the underlying issues. That's an expensive
plan and all levels of government and the community would have to come
together for that," Tysick told a roomful of community leaders.

He said a social plan would include a whole range of things from detox
and treatment centres to social housing to work for those who need
it.

Tysick's outburst came as meth society spokesman Mark McLaughlin
explained there are only five detox beds on southern Vancouver Island
for addicted youth.

"I can't believe we're talking about pieces of the puzzle. We have
dying kids on the street and nowhere to put them. Nowhere to put
them!" Tysick said.

Over the past three months the meth society has been working on a
three-pillar approach (education, enforcement and treatment) to combat
the spread of crystal meth, a highly addictive, cheap, easily produced
drug that is becoming commonplace on Victoria streets.

The task force has been making progress. Under education, it has
developed an age-appropriate education program for middle school and
secondary school students and produced a public service announcement
about the meth-watch program.

Regarding enforcement, it has run a court-watch program for three
months; surveyed youth in detention centres; set up a meth
tip/information line and a meth-watch program and is working with
retailers to tell them about products used in the manufacture of meth.

Under treatment, the society has signed an agreement of understanding
with the Vancouver Island Health Authority committing to: working
together to building and Island-based treatment strategy for
crystal-meth addiction, improving services relating to crystal meth
addiction, and consulting on deployment of new resources.

CH Television News reporter and task force facilitator Murray Langdon
said little was being done to address the spread of crystal meth when
the task force was formed three months ago. Since, it has since been
chipping away at the problem and has just launched a second task force
in the West Shore.

"With all these little baby steps we keep taking we keep checking
something off and something off and something off. Each one alone
doesn't look like a whole lot but in combination they are a tremendous
amount."

[sidebar]

DRUG FACTS

- - Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant drug made in illegal labs.
It has a high potential for abuse and dependence.

- - It can be taken orally, snorted, injected or smoked.

- - Methamphetamine is often referred to by many names including: meth,
speed, chalk, ice, crystal and glass.

- - Methamphetamine releases high levels of dopamine in the brain. This
stimulates brain cells to enhance mood and body movement. Over time it
may cause decreased levels of dopamine which can result in a severe
movement disorder with symptoms resembling Parkinson's disease.

- - Short-term effects include increased heart rate, blood pressure and
breathing rate, insomnia, increased talkativeness, reduced appetite,
hallucinations and confusion.

Effects from large doses include fever and sweating, headache, blurred
vision, dizziness, dry mouth, irritability, tremors, anxiety, paranoia
and hypothermia and convulsions which can result in death.

- - Long-term effects include fatal kidney and lung disorders, liver
damage, possible brain damage, depression, malnutrition, violence and
aggression.

- - Prolonged use may produce paranoia, hallucinations, repetitive
behavior patterns and delusions of parasites or insects on the skin.

- -- Source: The National Institute on Drug Abuse and Prevention