METH LABS TARGET OF NEW RESEARCH PROJECT

Assessing the existing tools in the global arsenal in the fight
against meth will be part of a new research study being commissioned
by the City of Chilliwack.

The outline for the new project is still in the planning stages,
explained RCMP research chair Darryl Plecas with the UCFV School of
Criminology and Criminal Justice.

"I've done some work already on defining the characteristics of meth
labs and I think the extent of the problem in B.C. is probably much
more significant than it has ever been," Plecas said. "There's some
concern about the likelihood that we'll see more of these."

Plecas captured headlines in 2002 as the lead researcher for the
cutting-edge study showing grow-ops were popping up in more rural
areas like Chilliwack. The recommendation was tackling the challenge
from a public safety perspective.

Now the research arm of his department will be putting the community
scourge of meth labs under the microscope.

Plecas said the nature and extent of marijuana grow-ops, as well as
the enforcement and prevention models have become well-known in many
communities, but the same cannot be said about the murky underworld of
meth labs, which are often much harder to detect, he said.

Canada's larger and more sophisticated type of "super lab" capable of
mass meth production contrasts sharply with the smaller, user-based
"cook operations" more typical in the U.S., Plecas noted.

Mayor Clint Hames said he's eager to see the research partners'
emphasis shifted to the challenge of meth.

"We want to find out what's working and what's not working worldwide,
so that when we move forward to take action, we will have a solid body
of work behind us," he said.

The goal will ultimately be to find something that fits Chilliwack's
needs specifically, the mayor said, adding that consulting partners
will include UCFV, Sto:lo Nation, RCMP, Chilliwack School District,
and Fraser Health.

"I don't know if ultimately we'll decide that something like Meth
Watch out of Maple Ridge is the answer, or another idea," Hames said.

The city got a grant from the province in the spring of last year,
which kick-started the process of looking for a made-in-Chilliwack
solution for the growing problem of the highly addictive and damaging
drug.

"Although the funding was not enough to run a program or hire staff,
we looked at what would be the best first step and decided it would be
to do research to define the problem, and what it means for the
community," Hames said.

Plecas made a point of acknowledging recent government efforts to
reduce meth production.

"Some of those steps are very good, such as paying attention to the
sale of precursor chemicals, but nothing like the spectacular success
they've seen in some places in the U.S. where they're controlled at
the point of sale," he said.

As municipalities tighten up laws to prevent grow-ops from being set
up, some of those criminals may switch into meth production, Plecas
suggested.

"Production is much faster and there will be people who will see that
as an opportunity to be taken advantage of," he said. "What's really
frightening about meth labs - aside from the hazards and risk of
explosion, fire and toxic chemicals - is the nature of the individuals
who tend to be involved."

As a consequence, he pointed to calls for tougher penalties and
sentences emerging lately.

"All one needs to do is take a stroll to the Downtown Eastside to
understand why no penalty is serious enough for these people. Those
engaged in the production of meth in super labs, if it were me, I
would be giving them life imprisonment for causing so much hurt and so
much harm, to so many people for so long."

The victims are into the "tens of thousands," he suggested.

Whereas some agencies estimate that there could be up to 25,000 grows
in B.C., there are undoubtedly far fewer meth operations.

"So if you said, 'How many know meth labs could we see in a year?' you
could figure a dozen, which may not seem that many. But you don't need
that many meth labs before you cause havoc.

"It's conceivable that a single lab could supply the so-called market
demand for the entire province."

He said in many way the highly-addictive substance is "more serious"
than cocaine or heroine in terms of long-standing damage.

"The people in the business of meth productions are merchants of death
and misery, there's no question," he added.

Meetings between research staff and the city on the "nuances" of the
research plan were to start this week.

How Meth Wormed Its Way In

How did meth become so all-pervasive in so many communities,
anyway?

There's actually "a tragic tale" behind the way methamphetamines
gained its current popularity across B.C., said UCFV research leader
Darryl Plecas. "It's one of the things about meth that most people
don't know," he said.

"You might recall in the late 1990s when raves were huge and ecstasy
was a big thing. That's when they started adulterating it with meth."

Researchers tracked the phenomenon using lab results from drug
seizures provided to Health Canada, he noted.

"This is how many people unwittingly began to get addicted, thinking
they were taking ecstasy, and it's one of the most disturbing aspect
of the trends we're seeing," he said.

The harsh lesson to be learned from the meth-laced ecstasy story was
that "no matter what we do," Plecas continued, "the drug dealer will
seek to build a better mousetrap and offer a better high.

"They'll often do whatever it takes to get this out
there."

He said there have even been documented attempts to mix marijuana with
meth to get it into wider circulation.

"Cutting it with ecstasy is about getting it out there on the market
at a very inexpensive price. The reality is kids get high and the fact
that it's sold so cheaply makes it worse."

Meth is "the most common ingredient" in what's sold as ecstasy these
days, Plecas added.

"That's part of what tells us how unconscionable these people really
are."