PRISON IS ONLY ONE FACET IN FIGHT AGAINST CRYSTAL METH

Statistics from the B.C. Coroner's office don't tell the whole story
about the scourge known as methamphetamine, but the portion they
illustrate is scary enough.

Over the past five years, the number of people dying with this
dangerous drug -- a.k.a crystal meth -- in their system has nearly
doubled every year, starting with just three in 2000 and rising to 33
in 2004.

With more and more British Columbians trying meth, it has created a
demand for an underground manufacturing industry that surfaces with
sometimes disastrous consequences in neighbourhoods from West Point
Grey to Surrey.

Like marijuana grow-ops, these secret laboratories are often
controlled by organized crime. But they are far more dangerous to
their neighbours because of the highly volatile and toxic chemicals
used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

The federal government announced this week that it is finally ready to
treat crystal meth as the menace it really is. It increased the
penalties for production and trafficking in the drug to the same level
now in use for heroin and cocaine: a maximum penalty of life in
prison. The maximum penalty for possession has also been raised to
seven years to match other "hard" drugs. There will also be new
penalties for possessing some of the chemicals that are used to
manufacture crystal meth.

It is gratifying to see Ottawa paying attention to growing demands for
a crackdown on methamphetamine production. But it's not clear how much
difference the new measures will make.

No doubt the ability to charge people who possess the precursors to
methamphetamine production will give police another weapon to use
against organized crime.

But police are only one part of the enforcement picture and
enforcement is only a small part of an effective strategy to deal with
drug use.

Justice Minister Irwin Cotler is sending an important message to the
judiciary by increasing the maximum penalty for manufacturing and
trafficking to life in prison. Without a minimum penalty, however, it
will be entirely up to judges as to whether that message is translated
into more jail time for offenders.

Cotler argues that the evidence shows that mandatory minimum sentences
do not have a deterrent effect. We expect him now to gather evidence
to demonstrate that the route he has chosen instead has persuaded
judges to treat this growing threat to our communities more seriously.

We will also be watching to see that Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh
follows up on his promise that this week's announcement is only part
of a larger strategy he has in mind for prevention and
rehabilitation.

We don't have all the answers when it comes to battling illegal drug
use, but we know from the failure of the war on drugs in the United
States that simply filling our jails with dealers is not the solution.

We have to keep working on persuading potential users that drugs are
not the answer they seem and providing people who are already addicted
with the help they need to make the difficult transition to a
drug-free and productive life.