PROSTITUTES SWITCHING TO METH: POLICE

Police have warned residents in two Calgary neighbourhoods that their
safety may be at risk as methamphetamine drug use spreads to the
sex-trade industry.

Police have been braced for the past year for the dangerous drug's
infiltration onto city streets. They now know it is here and the
number of incidents involving the drug are beginning to rise.

"They warned us months ago to be prepared," said Art Sheeler,
president of the Forest Lawn Block Watch Association and one of the
key individuals trying to remove sex-trade workers from residential
city streets.

"That stuff is really dangerous. They go wonkers on it. Police told us
that when hookers are on that stuff they need it like now. We've been
told to stay away from them and don't have much to do with them."

Det. Nina Vaughan, of the police drug unit, said police are beginning
to see a rise in meth use in the city.

Last year, police recorded 15 incidents of meth use before October.
This year, during the same period, they have recorded 40 incidents.

"We're also seeing more of it on the street and in the sex trade,"
said Vaughan.

Vaughan said it's difficult to predict how meth will impact Calgary
life when it spreads.

"We're trained to deal with methamphetamine labs," said Vaughan.
"We're trying to keep ahead of the trend."

Ann Kurpe, president of the Victoria Park Community Association, said
she too has been warned by police about meth use among
prostitutes.

"We have been warned that the girls can get so badly hooked (on
methamphetamine) that they do get violent," said Kurpe.

"Police have advised citizens not to confront the prostitutes and drug
addicts because their behaviour can be very unpredictable."

Sheeler said residents have been warned that clandestine labs also
present a safety issue because the manufacturing of meth can be
dangerous and lead to explosions and fires.

Doug King, chairman of the Department of Justice Studies at Mount
Royal College, said methamphetamine is the "drug of choice" of
organized crime.

"It's part of a violent sub-culture," he said.

Meth can be "cooked" in relatively small spaces using legally
obtained, over-the-counter drugs such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or
phenylpropanolamine -- and household goods such as fertilizer.

The concoction is explosive. For users, the drug produces a quick
chemical high, which lasts much longer than cocaine. Just one gram of
the drug will provide an eight-to 12-hour high.

A report this year by the Criminal Intelligence Service of Alberta
said a significant amount of crystal methamphetamine, or speed, is
being produced and distributed in the province.

Local drug experts have been studying the increasing popularity of
meth since 1994 and have tagged the narcotic as an emerging problem.

The emerging problem has led Alberta Solicitor General Heather Forsyth
to establish an interdepartmental committee consisting of government
officials from the ministries of health, agriculture, children's
services and the environment, as well as law enforcement officials, to
investigate the issue.

"We have met a number of times and we're in the process of putting the
final touches on a report that will go to the minister," said Alberta
RCMP drug education Sgt. Ian Sanderson, who is a member of the committee.