METH TASK FORCE LAUNCHED

Crystal meth is an addictive street drug that destroys lives, and
Ladysmith is pooling all the resources of the community in an effort
to fight its spread.

The Town is seeking $10,000 in provincial government funding to go
towards a new Meth Task Force spearheaded by Ladysmith councillor
Scott Bastian and drug counsellor Kim Chadwick.

The task force is a follow-up to a November meeting that brought
community stakeholders together including representatives from the
RCMP, the Town, the high school, paramedics, the fire department, and
front-line drug counsellors working through the Ladysmith Resources
Centre.

That purpose of that meeting was to determine the extent to which
crystal metamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, crystal, crank,
jib, ice, or simply meth, has taken hold in Ladysmith, while the Task
Force will go a step further by implementing an action plan.

It is difficult to track the number of crystal meth users in the
Ladysmith area, but sources close to the problem say the drug is
widely available either as chunky crystals most often smoked in a
pipe, or surreptiously slipped into tablets of ecstasy, a popular
party drug that may contain a host of other drugs including cocaine,
heroin, and speed.

Ecstasy has been fingered as the drug most often linked to overdoses
in Ladysmith, and Chadwick figures around one in 10 teens are
experimenting with it.

Cpl. Rob Graves of Ladysmith RCMP says crystal meth has been around
for a few years, though in recent months the "drug of choice" has
shifted to crack cocaine.

Two weeks ago police dismantled a major crack cocaine operation,
raiding three apartments and arresting 11 people. Those involved had
been trading crack for stolen goods, including jewellery, cash and
household items.

But Graves said just because dealers and addicts have shown a
preference for crack, doesn't mean methamphetamine has
disappeared.

"We're hearing and seeing more crack cocaine versus the meth but
we're also hearing from people who have a connection to drugs that
the meth is still there," said Graves.

He said from a policing perspective, crack users are easier to handle
than people addicted to meth, who are prone to mood swings and
unpredictable, sometimes violent behavior.

What both drugs have in common, explained Graves, is an addict's need
to beg, borrow or steal to get it.

"All drug addicts will do whatever they can do to support their
habit," he said. "It gets a hold of you and all they're concerned
about is feeding that habit."

The Task Force will borrow from a crystal meth template developed in
Maple Ridge.

Two years ago the Vancouver suburb was forced to deal with a major
crystal meth problem after a shelter was flooded by homeless people
addicted to meth.

The community, led by the local Rotary club, called together
businesses, media, health care providers and social service
organizations to come up with a plan.

Their three-pillared approach, focusing on public awareness,
treatment, and stepped-up enforcement, managed to divert many of the
400 addicts into treatment. Maple Ridge was also the first community
to roll out the Meth Watch program, which educates store owners and
employees how to spot someone buying the ingredients used to
manufacture meth.

Chadwick said the Ladysmith Task Force will attempt to flesh out two
of the Maple Ridge pillars - public awareness and
enforcement.

Informing the public about the dangers of crystal meth could be done
through forums at the high school, Meth Watch, and an information
blitz using shopping bag flyers for example, says Chadwick. "We're
trying to be proactive before it becomes an issue."

On the enforcement side, Cpl. Graves said he's hopeful the federal
government follows through on its promise to implement mandatory
minimum sentences for those convicted of serious drug crimes, "so
that someone isn't back on the street after serving six to eight
months," he said. Another idea is dedicating an RCMP member in the
detachment solely to drug enforcement, said Graves.

While the Task Force is new to Ladysmith, ours would not be the first
Vancouver Island community to mobilize against meth.

Nanaimo, Victoria and Oceanside (Parksville) have all signed protocol
agreements with the Vancouver Island Health Authority to develop an
Island-based strategy for crystal meth addiction.

One of the architects of the strategy is Ladysmith's Mike
McDonald.

McDonald grew up in Maple Ridge and co-produced a documentary entitled
Life or Meth: A Community Takes Action. The 41-minute film is a how-to
guide for towns facing issues associated with the drug. He said
just because crystal meth hasn't grabbed a toehold in Ladysmith, doesn't
mean it can't.

"The key thing here is not to be complacent," says McDonald. "We need
to concentrate on the public education side of it and also to
recognize there are people that are addicted that need to have
treament facilities in place."

McDonald noted meth addiction may not be immediately visible in
Ladysmith, but there are likely addicts with connections to our area
living in larger centres who are badly in need of help.

"Even though the problem is not here there's going to be addicts from
families in Ladysmith who are lost out there somewhere," he said.
"And that's scary."

The Meth Task Force holds its first meeting this Thursday, June 1, at
LSS.