EX-ADDICT SAYS CRYSTAL METH PLAN FALLS SHORT

REGINA -- Questions about the government's sincerity remain for those who
have demanded a provincial crystal methamphetamine strategy.

While pleased the government has decided to act on crystal meth, advocates
say a strategy announced this week falls short.

More money and resources are needed to deal with this drug, which users say
is highly addictive and difficult to recover from.

"I'm glad they've finally come out with it, but I'm not really satisfied
with it at all," said Jean McGillivary, a former crystal meth user from
Naicam. She spoke of the addictiveness of crystal meth compared to other
drugs in the rotunda of the legislature last November.

Addicts need a phone line to call for help rather than websites proposed in
the government's plan. Also, more long-term rehab beds are required as
opposed to the short-term detox spaces that were announced, she said. Not
putting any extra funds into addressing crystal meth use, trafficking and
production in the province is also a concern for McGillivray and others.

"I'm happy they've at least acknowledged the problem for the first time
publicly in that way as opposed to (saying) 'Well, it can wait. It's not a
crisis,' " said Peter Moreau, principal of Nakoda-Oyade education centre at
Carry the Kettle First Nation. "But I'm very displeased they are not going
to put some sort of financial push behind it."

Moreau felt the government was "sitting on its hands" when it came to the
growing prevalence of crystal meth in the province. He is organizing a
meeting for next month to inform his community about the drug and hopefully
prevent people from using it.

He became aware of the drug while working in Turtleford in northwestern
Saskatchewan. The meeting is his way of staying "ahead of the wave" that is
coming to southern Saskatchewan.

"What it appears to me that they (the provincial government) are doing is
trying to quell the public's agitation. . . . I believe now the public will
say 'No, we're not satisfied with just putting the regular funds there,' "
said Moreau.

The government will have to spend more money because of crystal meth, said
Prince Albert Mayor Jim Stiglitz.

"If they would look at it long-term, what this drug is costing our society
in health and things like that, you have to throw money at it to get it
under control somewhat," said Stiglitz.

Stiglitz put forward a motion at a recent urban municipalities convention
calling on the government to pay for more detox beds as well as education
and enforcement. It was one of three crystal-meth related resolutions
passed at that convention.

In announcing the strategy this week, Health Minister John Nilson
acknowledged it mostly represents a summary of actions already being taken
by the government in response to public demand.

Many new initiatives have already been launched as part of an alcohol and
drug strategy being developed by the government, including providing
additional youth stabilization services to provide a safe haven for youths,
more "brief" detox services for addicts to stabilize from serious drug
abuse, mobile treatment operations for northern communities, community
outreach centres for youth and a media campaign to raise public awareness.