CRYSTAL METH BECOMING A CONCERN IN ATLANTIC CANADA

RCMP Synthetic Drugs Division Finds Trace Elements in Ecstasy Tablets

The times they are a changin'... and sometimes not for the better.

In this world of technology, people are more inclined to be
innovative in all facets of life.

This includes the drug trade.

Const. Paul Robinson, of the synthetic drug division of the RCMP,
sees things changing on a daily basis.

His expertise on synthetic drugs was presented to two groups of first
responders during sessions at the Amherst Fire Department Wednesday.

Each of those first responders could come across labs where drugs are
made or someone who may be a drug user.

Crystal meth has the potential to become a serious problem in
Atlantic Canada. In fact, Robinson said the drug has already reached
Nova Scotia.

"What we are finding is that ecstasy is a prevalent drug in all our
communities throughout the province." Robinson said.

"We took some of those pills and had them tested and found they came
back containing crystal meth," he added.

Police services throughout Nova Scotia have yet to locate any labs
and no official reports of the drug in its pure form have been made
to Robinson's knowledge. He said crystal meth is not currently the
drug of choice but because it's so easy to make it will only be a
matter of time before it hits this region.

"You can't make meth without pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, most
commonly found in cold medications like Sudafed decongestant," he said.

In many of the cases across Canada, he said, labs are discovered by
accident by first responders, not the result of an investigation.
This makes it tricky.

"It's a new way of doing business for firemen, EHS and police because
they're the first ones who are going to find a meth lab."

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CRYSTAL METH HISTORY

Crystal meth made its first appearance in Canada years ago in British
Columbia and quickly spread to the Prairie provinces. The problem
continues to grow in Ontario and Quebec, where police have busted as
many as 30 meth labs of varying sizes.

Clandestine labs, used to create drugs such as meth, GHB and ecstasy,
are difficult to detect, especially on a small scale

That has slowed police progress in the Atlantic region.

What Is It?

Crystal methamphetamine is a colorless, odorless form of
d-methamphetamine, a powerful and highly addictive synthetic
(man-made) stimulant. Crystal methamphetamine typically resembles
small fragments of glass or shiny blue-white "rocks" of various
sizes. Like powdered methamphetamine (another form of
d-methamphetamine), crystal methamphetamine is abused because of the
long-lasting euphoric effects it produces. Crystal methamphetamine,
however, typically has a higher purity level and may produce even
longer-lasting and more intense physiological effects than the
powdered form of the drug.