COMMUNITY TAKES AIM AT METH

Editor's note: This is the third, and final article in a series on
crystal methamphetamine, aimed at educating the public and raising
awareness about the drug.

A dash of paint thinner, pour in some iodine, a splash of ether and
mix in some hydrochloric acid and you've got just some of the
ingredients to cook up a life sentence to meth.

These are only a few of the toxic components combined to make crystal
methamphetamine.

The ingredients are concerning when you consider that people actually
snort, smoke, inject or eat the final product for a euphoric high.
But the preparation of making this drug is also a major concern.

"Every stage of crystal meth production is volatile," said Lisa
Levesque, co-ordinator for the North Okanagan Crystal Meth Prevention
and Awareness Project.

With the ease of production, often taking up minimal space, meth can
be cooked up anywhere. Meth labs, also known as synthetic clandestine
labs, are in homes, but can exist in confined spaces such as a car
trunk. They can be easily set up and produce product within a few
days and subsequent batches with only a 20-minute turnaround time.

In these labs there is not only the potential for explosion, but also
the dangers that the ingredients bring to the area.

"The air that the cook breathes is poisonous," said Levesque, adding
that not only is the cook at harm, but so is anyone else in the home,
including children living there.

"Imagine what the children's organs look like as a result of being in
the same room as those vapours?" said Rachael Neuhaus, Vernon
Community Policing Office co-ordinator.

Those same chemical vapours that enter people's lungs, also seep into
every fabric of the house or whatever space being used to produce
it.

The result is that once these labs are uncovered, the homes often
must be condemned or torn down, said Levesque.

"It's just like a hazard spill," she said, noting that it is very
costly to clean up these places.

There are also hazards to the environment, as each kilogram of meth
produced equals five to seven kilograms of chemical waste.

In an attempt to discard the evidence of a lab, Levesque said it
isn't uncommon to see that waste dumped down the drains, into the
backyard or wherever possible.

A major concern of all of this, is that these explosive labs can
exist anywhere - in a home down the street, storage facility, camper,
hotel, vehicle, trailer, vacant buildings and even remote outdoor
sites.

The good news for North Okanagan residents is the RCMP haven't
uncovered a meth lab here, according to Const. Brian Evans with the
Vernon RCMP drug task force.

"But," he adds, "that doesn't mean there isn't one."

Meth clandestine labs actually make up 60 per cent of chemical labs
in Canada, with ecstasy labs making up 15 per cent.

Locally the community is keeping its eyes open for early signs of
such labs.

Through the Meth Watch Program, some local retailers, such as
hardware stores where meth ingredients can be found, are watching for
and questioning large purchases of meth ingredients.

Although more retailers, including pharmacies, need to join the
watch, Neuhaus said it is an excellent program.

"That's community policing at its best. They're trying to do their
due diligence to make a safe community for us all."

Const. Evans also advises residents to watch for the following signs
of a meth lab.

"If you're seeing some of the glass beakers and funky glass tubes
that should be flashing alarm bells for you."

Other detectors include excessive amounts of cold medicine tablet
containers, unusual odors such as heavy solvents or stale urine,
heavily secured doors and covered windows, jars containing clear
liquid with a white coloured solid on the bottom, large amounts of
stripped lithium batteries and propane tanks with fittings that have
turned blue.