'STOP CRYSTAL METH' - COLLEEN KLEIN

The Premier's Task Force on Crystal Meth has released an
83-recommendation report that calls on senior levels of government to
make sweeping and expensive policy and law enforcement overhauls to
battle the growing social scourge.

"I wish crystal meth wasn't a problem in this province but it is a
reality," said task force co-chair Colleen Klein yesterday at a press
conference in Edmonton.

"The damage it is doing in this province has to be stopped. What I am
learning really scares me."

The long list of recommendations includes adding a minimum of 100 beds
for detoxification services throughout the province and another 200
beds for treatment services.

The report also proposes the establishment of Drug Undercover Street
Teams (DUST) in seven provincial regions and the creation of full-time
Emergency Response Teams/Tactical Teams in Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary.

It also calls for the federal government to amend the Youth Criminal
Justice in relation to youth and crystal meth, and a proposal that the
Alberta government take over prosecutions of federal drug offences
under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Klein admitted the implementation of the long-awaited report will be
costly, adding she is convinced government officials will not simply
put it on the shelf.

"I don't see any dust collecting here," said Klein, whose task force
has been gathering public input for the past 11 months.

"We certainly know it is not going to be free. It is going to be
expensive."

Red Deer North MLA Mary Anne Jablonski, the only elected official on
the task force, said she is confident her government, which will soon
have a new premier, will support the report and provide the necessary
financial resources.

"The government has to support it. I know there will be support in
implementing the recommendations," said Jablonski, adding many of the
recommendations can be made at "minimal" cost. "If we don't things
will get worse.

"Instead of focusing on the cost we should focus on investment for the
youth in battling back," added Jablonski.

The task force was announced by Premier Ralph Klein in October, 2005.
Its mandate was to review past efforts to combat crystal meth
addiction, and to come up with a set of new recommendations for the
future.

Yesterday's released report focused on three areas =AD prevention,
healing and treatment and "getting tough", the latter targeting law
enforcement issues and bureaucratic initiatives to thwart the
distribution of crystal meth.

"We have a battle plan. It is a battle we can win," said Dr. Robert
Westbury, co-chair of the task force. "Governments have to work
together to get rid of this insidious problem."

Meanwhile, soon to be outgoing Premier Ralph Klein issued a news
release yesterday praising the task force report.

"We asked this task force to produce a road map to help us tackle a
complex problem facing not just Alberta, but communities across North
America," said the premier. "I am very pleased with these strategies
to reduce the harm to our youth and communities."