B.C.'S CRYSTAL METH STRATEGY

In 2004, B.C. became the first jurisdiction in Canada to announce an
integrated crystal meth strategy.

Key commitments included:

* Working closely with police to shut down meth labs and put
producers and dealers out of business.

* Consulting with the BC College of Pharmacists and Health Canada to
make it harder for producers to get their hands on bulk orders of
common cold medicines, which can be used to make meth.

* Pressuring the federal government to increase criminal consequences
for those who make and traffic the drug.

* In November 2004, B.C. hosted the first western Canadian summit on
meth use, bringing together doctors, counsellors, pharmacists,
police, lawyers and government.

* In response to provincial pressure, Ottawa announced it was
bringing in tougher penalties for people convicted of producing and
trafficking meth.

The Provincial Response

* In October 2005, Premier Gordon Campbell announced a $7-million
initiative to combat the spread of crystal meth use and addiction.

* The Province also created the Crystal Meth Secretariat within the
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to implement the
initiative cross-government and develop a broader meth strategy --
including a timetable for action with multi-year spending
requirements. The secretariat is supported by a cross-ministry
steering committee.

* The funding addresses the crystal meth problem on three fronts:
- -Community based initiatives: $2 million is currently being
distributed to individual communities in grants of up to $10,000, for
community-based anti-meth initiatives. The grants are being
administered by the Union of B.C. Municipalities.

- - Treatment enhancement: The Ministry of Health is working with the
six health authorities to distribute $2 million aimed at enhancing
existing treatment programs.

- - Public awareness campaigns: $1 million is earmarked for
school-based awareness initiatives. A working group co-chaired by the
secretariat and the Ministry of Education, and including
representatives from three school districts, parent advisory
committees, and the Addictions Research Centre, is currently
developing content and a delivery strategy. Another $2 million is
targeted for a major public awareness advertising campaign, scheduled for 2006.

* The Province is also sponsoring crystal meth community forums in
Vancouver, Kamloops, Prince George, Courtenay and Richmond. The
forums will focus on local responses to the threat of meth, and on
developing local strategies for dealing with the problem. Guest
speakers will include experts on meth use and production in B.C.,
health-care professionals, and representatives from local community
groups, health authorities and police.

* With the new Provincial budget, government confirmed its commitment
to protect BC's youth from crystal meth with an additional $2 million
over three years for the Crystal Meth secretariat.

* B.C. is also increasing annual funding by $8 million for crystal
meth treatment options and youth addictions services, including
increasing bed capacity for youth with addictions by 75 per cent and
building treatment programs and supports for crystal meth users.

* The new funding is being added to the base budgets of all six
health authorities. $6 million is dedicated to youth addictions
treatment and $2 million to crystal meth treatment programs.

* The new annual funding will be distributed as follows:

_ Vancouver Coastal Health -- $2,183,915.

_ Fraser Health -- $1,964,558.

_ The Vancouver Island Health Authority $1,539,324.

_ Interior Health -- $1,261,421.

_ Northern Health -- $426,662.

_ The Provincial Health Services Authority $624,120.

* The crystal meth funding will be used to develop targeted treatment
programs, including individual and group counselling, and recovery
support, for methamphetamine users and their families. Programs will
target high-risk group s such as youth -- particularly those living
on the street, and young adults.

* The new funding will bring the total number of addictions treatment
beds available in the province up to 1038, with 158 dedicated to youth.

For more information on the forums and crystal meth, visit
www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crystalmeth.