B.C. SOLICITOR GENERAL JOHN LES SAYS AWARENESS IS KEY TO COMBATING
CRYSTAL METH USE

It has many names: crystal, glass, ice, crank, white pony, fizz wiz
are just a few.

It is a highly addictive stimulant than induces a high that can last
from two to 24 hours. It can result in long-term psychosis, brain
damage or stroke. It can be purchased for as little as $5.

It's crystal meth and the B.C. government is investing millions of
dollars to fight the spread of its use among young people in the province.

Last October, Premier Gordon Campbell unveiled a $7 million plan to
combat the spread of crystal meth use and addiction by:

* encouraging community-based initiatives that will be funded by
grants administered by the Union of B.C. Municipalities;

* assisting the province's six health authorities to enhance existing
treatment programs; and

* developing school- and broader-based public awareness campaigns.

"Crystal meth is a big deal -- much bigger than $7 million," says
B.C. Solicitor General John Les.

Still, his government's $7 million investment in a crystal meth
strategy is indicative of how seriously Les and his colleagues are
taking the problem.

With more than $1 billion spent on mental health and addiction
services, there is more available to crystal meth addicts than that
outlined in the $7 million action plan, but targeted funding is meant
to achieve certain things.

Raising awareness is one of those, and it's a critical component of
the plan, says Les.

People need to understand how dangerous the drug is, says Les, adding
that the effects of crystal meth are often irreversible. That makes
it important to get the message out to young people who may think
they are going to try it as a lark, just one time.

Les has a strong message for anyone contemplating using meth: "The
first time you take crystal meth might be your last It is an evil,
vicious and unforgiving drug."

Part of the government's meth strategy includes the establishment of
the Crystal Meth Secretariat. The secretariat -- part of Les's
ministry -- was set up to help ensure that the meth initiative is
implemented as a "cross-government" strategy.

Les has seen first-hand the effects of crystal meth, having spent
time talking to addicts on the streets of Victoria and Vancouver.

When you see people who have used crystal meth in the past, you see
people in desperate shape, says Les, "people whose health is suffering badly."

And then there are the seasoned cocaine and heroin addicts who
discover their drugs have been mixed with crystal meth, leading them
to places they never expected to be -- even though they are admitted
drug users.

But meth use is not confined to the streets.

According to the Crystal Meth Secretariat, "a recent survey involving
four B.C. school districts showed that up to 8 per cent of students
in Grades 6 to 12 report having tried crystal meth in the 2005 school year."

Other statistics point to meth use among young people.

"One in 10 people between the ages of 15 and 24 have tried using the
drug," Vancouver Coastal Health president and CEO Ida Goodreau said in March.

So the fight against crystal meth is waged on two fronts, says Les:
prevent as much as possible and then try to salvage as much as
possible by treating those who have become addicted.

But treatment is not easy. Les notes that it's frustrating to treat
crystal meth addiction -- and it usually takes successive tries
before an addict can get clean.

So as far as Les is concerned, the best avenue to treating meth
addiction is clear: "There's no better treatment than prevention."