$7M FOR WAR ON 'DIRTY, FILTHY DRUG'

$3m Goes To Public-Awareness Campaign And $2m To Treatment Programs

Slamming crystal meth as a "dirty, filthy drug," Premier Gordon Campbell
yesterday announced a $7-million anti-meth program that will include a
public-awareness campaign.

Campbell promised the new measures in a speech to the Union of B.C.
Municipalities.

And he rebuffed critics who said the money was inadequate, by promising
further unspecified measures.

"This is part of what we intend to do. It is not all we intend to do," the
premier later told reporters.

He acknowledged the need for more prevention, enforcement, harm-reduction
and treatment options.

In his toughest remarks yet on crystal meth, Campbell said methamphetamine,
produced from easily obtained ingredients like cough syrup and road flares,
was inflicting serious harm, especially to youth.

"[It's] a dirty, filthy drug. It ruins people's lives forever. It needs to
be stopped before its deathly hold claims the lives of people in our
communities, usually young lives," he said.

The new funding includes $2 million to the UBCM to provide $10,000 in seed
grants to every B.C. community that wants to participate in community programs.

There's also $3 million for a "major" public-awareness campaign of which $1
million will go to school-based efforts and $2 million for a campaign aimed
at the public. Treatment programs will receive $2 million.

Campbell also promised the creation of a so-called "crystal-meth
secretariat" in the Solicitor-General's Ministry to help communities
consider anti-meth strategies.

UBCM delegates this week passed a resolution asking Campbell's government
to limit access to the supply of over-the-counter drugs used to make the
highly addictive drug.

NDP Leader Carole James said not enough money goes to treatment: "I think
that's an insult for the people that have been working hard in communities
to address this problem."