NILSON HAS CRYSTAL METH STRATEGY

After months of growing pressure from the Opposition, First Nations and
municipalities, the NDP government released its strategy on combatting
crystal methamphetamine Wednesday.

But the Saskatchewan Party, which has been pushing the government to do
more on crystal meth since last spring's legislative session, said there is
little new in the 30-page document.

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

"As we've done the summation, we've also figured out there are some areas
where we need to provide more services," he told reporters at the
provincial legislature.

New initiatives already taking place as part of a comprehensive alcohol and
drug strategy under development by the government include :

- - 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 youths, and;

- - A media campaign to raise public awareness.

Saskatchewan Party MLA June Draude said she doesn't disagree with the
initiatives but it's very troubling the government is not setting out a
timetable for their implementation or a budget that puts new resources
towards crystal meth.

"Meth is moving quickly in the province and it's the responsibility of the
government to deal with the issue as quickly as possible," she said.

"I'm just scared that we're just giving it lip service. I'm scared it's a
reaction to a public demand to do something and if you're really serious
about it there would be money available, there would be a real plan
available today. I just don't see that."

Nilson said the strategy represents a refocusing of existing addiction
treatment and prevention services on the highly-addictive drug.

"At any one time there's a certain segment of the population that have
addictions problems and I don't think we're going to see a huge increase in
the numbers but they will be involved with different drugs," he said.

"We're allocating the resources that we need to deal with this problem and
if in fact it requires many more days of treatment time and place, well
we'll get the money to do that."

Nilson said resources would not be taken away from other areas of need and
it's likely there will be more money for addictions when the health budget
is released in March.

Last week the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association passed a motion
at its convention calling on the government to produce a comprehensive
crystal meth strategy.

Premier Lorne Calvert recently appointed NDP MLA Graham Addley as
legislative secretary on substance abuse and prevention. Addley will review
existing services and examine options for their improvement.