CRYSTAL METH THE 'BIG DRUG'

Linked To Rise In Crime

Crystal meth is emerging as the most "prominent" drug in Alberta, with
law enforcement agencies and organizations that treat addicts pointing
to increasing signs of its use and production.

Once more prevalent in the northern half of the province,
methamphetamine is now also in Calgary, where it is causing enormous
problems for its predominantly young users.

"This is the big drug now that people are really focusing on," said
Dean Vause, executive director of the Adolescent Addiction Recovery
Centre. "I wouldn't have seen that much crystal meth a year ago, but
more and more it's coming in."

Vause's comments come on the heels of several large meth busts in the
Calgary area, and coincided with Monday's release of the Criminal
Intelligence Service Alberta's semi-annual report.

The report says the increased availability of methamphetamine has
contributed to a rise in property theft, identity theft and fraud.

"Speeder" groups, which are comprised of users who deal
methamphetamine to other users, often steal property in outlying
communities and dispose of it in the cities.

"These people will basically resort to any means in order to raise
money for their habit, if that's identity theft or fraud-related
instances, where they're able to use somebody's credit card or write
bogus cheques," said Ian Cameron, director of CISA.

A recent survey by AARC reveals that of its 30 or so patients under
21, one-third used crystal meth multiple times daily and one-third had
used it regularly, while most had tried it.

Meth is a highly addictive stimulant that can be smoked, snorted or
injected and provides a high that can last for hours.

A recovering addict, 20-year-old Lawren said he dealt drugs and stole
from people to fund his drug habit.

"I'd rob people -- whatever they had on them, money, jewelry, clothes,
walkmans and MP3 players," said Lawren.

A conference in Red Deer last month aimed at finding new ways to fight
meth addiction and production.

"We're going after the big guys," said Alberta Solicitor General
Heather Forsyth, who hosted the conference.

"We still have a long way to go."

Forsyth cited the recent success of the province's Integrated Response
to Organized Crime -- a joint-forces team that played a role earlier
this month in shutting down an international, multimillion-dollar
crime network that supplied drugs, including meth, to groups such as
the Hells Angels.

While agencies track the rise of meth, CISA reports production of
marijuana continues to stretch police resources.

As of September, police had seized more than $100 million in plants,
property and cash from 105 grow ops.

CISA says that in southern Alberta alone, police are "overwhelmed,"
with more than 100 suspected grow ops awaiting investigation.

The problem isn't necessarily a lack of police resources, CISA argues.
Rather, the agency says a federal government plan to decriminalize
marijuana possession in small amounts and light sentences in grow op
cases have created a fertile climate for criminals.

"With the current legislation review and lack of significant judicial
deterrents, this is seen as a low-risk/high-return activity for
organized crime groups," the report says.

Skeet was quick to point out, however, that many of the conditional
sentences meted out in connection with grow ops are against low-level
criminals hired to tend to the crops.

"Part of the problem is it's difficult to track down the people who
are actually co-ordinating and running these marijuana grow ops," he
said.

"If we're more successful at that, then we'll see stiffer sentences."