CRYSTAL METH TASK FORCE PLANS TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE

The local crystal meth task force is expected to hammer out its terms of
reference and set up a committee structure by early January.

The fledgling group, which is headed by former MLA Gillian Trumper, held
its second organizational meeting on Monday at Echo Centre, under
facilitator Theresa Kingston. While membership and all discussions are
confidential, the Times was invited to attend as an observer, and to report
on the progress of the task force.

The first order of business has been to define the mandate of the group.
Currently, communities across Vancouver Island are forming similar task
forces, which will be funded through the Union of BC Municipalities. On
Monday, local members opted to extend the focus of the group beyond crystal
meth, to include the wider issues of addiction and treatment.

"We're using crystal meth as the entry point," Kingston concluded.

The plan is to take a 'three-pillar" approach: education, prevention and
enforcement. And while the crystal meth problem hasn't become epidemic in
Port Alberni, there is a sense of urgency to stay ahead of a wave which
appears inevitable.

Along the way, members learned some disturbing facts about crystal
methamphetamine and its use. Such as:

- - This addiction is not like anything else on the drug market, and neither
is the treatment. While crack cocaine provides an immediate, short-lived
high, crystal meth can take hours to hit your brain, but it lasts for days.
And according to users, you can reach the "critical" stage in your
addiction on your first high. Detoxing takes months, because the chemical
residues remain in your lungs, and can be triggered by hot or cold weather.

- - Your drug of choice may be cocaine, but chances are, it's being cut with
crystal meth. It's cheaper, and the concentration required to get you high
is microscopic, so for a dealer, a little garnish of crystal meth gives a
more bang for your buck. On the street, one "point" is considered an
entry-level dose: one one-hundredth of a gram. Crystal meth is also showing
up in ecstasy and marijuana.

As task force members noted, the challenge will be to overcome widespread
ignorance about crystal meth, and addiction in general, while at the same
time, "not to make things worse with well-meaning."

There is federal and provincial money available for the program, but as one
member observed, "More money is nice, but we don't want to see any
resources diverted away from existing programs."