CRYSTAL METH DANGERS BETTER KNOWN

PORT HARDY - The dangers of crystal methamphetamine are better known
in this community after an awareness program, Brian Thurber told
council Oct. 10.

"Crystal meth is a whole new level of drug ... it's murder, no
kidding," said Thurber, who is coordinator for the Port Hardy Area
Restorative Justice Society. "Crystal meth is a crystalline powder
that is incredibly addictive, and it can be injected, smoked or swallowed.

"Those who produce it have one purpose in mind ... to get a person
addicted quickly, and 90 percent are addicted after just smoking,"
said Thurber. "The high is intense, and after just a few uses all you
want to do is crystal meth, not eating or drinking."

Port Hardy Area Restorative Justice Society received $10,000 from the
provincial government to help build community awareness of crystal
meth, and Thurber says the money was spent effectively.

Later in the meeting, Port Hardy RCMP Cpl. Marty Hooper underlined the problem.

"It is there and we are experiencing an increase," said Hooper. "It
is an extremely scary aspect of policing ... it is completely
addictive and people will do whatever it takes to get their fix."

One of the things that makes crystal meth so dangerous to society is
that it's easy to make from relatively cheap ingredients available
locally, says Thurber. "You can go to the hardware store and buy the
ingredients then make up a $10,000 batch in your bath tub," he warns.
"You can get the info off the internet."

Three local hardware stores sell many of the ingredients that could
be used to illegally produce crystal meth, and all three were
contacted in person to deliver Meth Watch materials telling staff
what to watch for and decals warning the public about the problem,
said Thurber.

There is one local pharmacy with a staff well-trained in what to
watch for with decals obviously displayed, Thurber added.

A 'Meth Madness' youth dance was planned with a comprehensive meth
awareness presentation sandwiched between sets by two live rock bands.

The program also reached out to building owners. Illicit meth labs in
private residences, apartments and so one can contaminate an entire
building and even the lot, says Thurber, who has tipped property
managers and apartment owners on what to look for.

A meth awareness booth at the two-day Fall Fair reached out to
thousands of people who attended, says Thurber, as did an article in
Gazette, free ads on Keta Cable and a call-in program on CFNI Radio.

"We feel, overall, that the community awareness of the dangers of
crystal meth has been substantially improved through our initiatives,
which continue full speed through the fall of 2006," he says.