NDP BLASTED FOR LACK OF CRYSTAL METH STRATEGY

SASKATOON -- The Calvert government is completely lost when it comes
to addressing the growing problem of crystal meth addiction in
Saskatchewan, says Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall.

At a Saskatoon news conference he came out swinging at the provincial
NDP for being "cavalier" over the issue "while people get addicted,
while families are torn apart and in some case, while lives are lost."

"Crystal meth is becoming a major drug problem in Saskatchewan and the
government needs to deal with it now, but it has no idea what it's
doing," said Wall, who distributed a collection of quotes from
government MLAs contradicting themselves in regard to their stance on
the drug.

Learning Minister Andrew Thomson is quoted in Hansard, the legislative
record, as stating the government has a strategy in place. A month later he
told the Leader-Post: "There shouldn't be a separate strategy."

Health Minister John Nilson has said his government has worked on a
meth strategy for almost seven years, prompting Wall to wonder how
long it takes.

"Our message today to the government, hopefully that they'll listen
to, is that crystal meth isn't going to wait for the NDP and neither
is the Saskatchewan Party. Being in opposition we may not have the
resources available to the government ... but we can lobby and we will."

He saluted his own MLAs June Draude, Brenda Bakken and Ted Merriman
for raising awareness of the drug. Merriman recently went public with
his daughter's struggle with it, while Draude and Bakken have lobbied
the NDP to educate people by publishing a poster identifying the
ingredients used to make meth.

That way, retailers would be tipped when someone buys bulk purchases
of certain products, such as propane tanks and ephedrine. It would
also make parents better informed about what to look out for if they
are concerned their children might be involved, said Wall.

"Many retailers have welcomed it (the posters) in other jurisdictions.
The pharmacies in our province and across Canada have said these
posters are a good idea," he said. "How difficult would it be for the
government to simply do that?"

Wall denied such a poster could also be viewed as detrimental as an
instruction manual.

"We can't hide. We have to start talking about it," he said. "If
they're buying these things, they already know about it."

The Sask. Party has assembled educational materials for anyone who
wants to be enlightened about the drug. Draude has developed a
power-point presentation which has been viewed in about five
Saskatchewan schools, primarily in her Kelvington-Wadena riding.

Nilson told reporters at the legislature that the NDP will release its
crystal meth strategy probably by the end of January.

He noted it is already part of the drug education program in schools,
its use is looked for by community resources caseworkers, and it is
dealt with in the Health Department's addictions programs.

Steps taken in the future will likely be aimed at curbing the
availability of ingredients and improving addiction treatment through
regional health authorities.

"There may be some specific concerns around how to rehabilitate people
involved with crystal meth. We know ... that the length of time
required is dramatically longer than for many other substances. We
don't yet have entirely clear evidence as to what those treatment
processes are," said Nilson, adding that officials are studying the
experiences of other jurisdictions.

Wall announced a five-point plan assembled by the Sask. Party which he
encouraged the NDP to adopt. It consists of education and public
awareness measures -- providing families, communities and schools with
literature to better inform them of the drug, its consequences and how
to combat it.

It also urges the NDP to immediately implement a crystal meth-specific
strategy distinct from other street drugs. It should include an
awareness program that is mandated for use in schools.

While all drugs are dangerous, crystal meth poses a particular threat
because it can be made almost anywhere from common household products
and is highly addictive, dangerous and cheap, Wall said.

The third point in the party's plan is the need for improved
treatment, such as an addictions program aimed at children, centres
that treat meth users for longer periods since it stays in the system
nearly a full year, safe houses for at-risk individuals waiting to get
into treatment centres, and family counselling.

Wall also wants an independent addictions foundation created, not one
wrapped into another government department.

And finally, the federal government must be pressured to give police
more teeth in enforcing the drug laws.