HEALTH CANADA REACTING TO WESTERN EFFORTS TO CURB METH USE

Health Canada officials are taking recommendations from the Western
Ministers' conference on crystal meth very seriously, even though the
department made changes even before the conference began.

Early Friday, just before the ministers met in Regina, federal Health
Minister Ujjal Dosanjh and Justice Minister Irwin Cotler announced the
federal government's intent to strengthen licensing controls on the key
ingredients in crystal meth as well as the date rape drug, GHB.

Four chemicals used in making crystal meth -- red phosphorus, white
phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid and hydriodic acid -- now require a
license and permit to import, export, produce or distribute.

The government is also considering amending the Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act to allow for tougher penalties for production, possession
and trafficking.

Those were two of the five recommendations that eventually came from the
western ministers at the conclusion of the one-day conference.

They also urged the federal government to create offenses for possession of
key ingredients, commit adequate resources to the enforcement of precursor
controls and to create a national crystal meth campaign.

Chris Williams, a spokesperson for Health Canada, said department officials
are now taking the other recommendations under advisement.

"We acknowledge the work that the western provinces are doing to address
the concern of increased use and production of methamphetamine in their
regions," he said. "We also support them in their efforts to find
collaborative ways of addressing the issues."

Williams said they are now talking to stakeholders about moving crystal
meth up to a Schedule 1 drug.

As for the most concrete step taken by ministers at the conference --
restricting the sale of cold remedies containing ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine -- Saskatchewan's governing body for pharmacists isn't sure
if it will be worthwhile.

"So far we've resisted pressure to impose restrictions because we haven't
seen any evidence of increased sales that are leading to the clandestine
manufacture of crystal meth," said Ray Joubert, registrar for the
Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists. "If that were the case and there were
solid evidence to support it, that's certainly something we would consider
very seriously."

Ministers have directed officials to report back by Oct. 1 with
recommendations as to how the substances will be restricted.

Joubert said a balance between limiting access for illicit use and those
who legitimately need the medicines is needed but the college will ask
members to abide by whatever is decided by the government.