CRYSTAL METH FUNDING NEEDS TO REACH ADDICTS

New funding for crystal meth addiction is welcomed, but the money has
to reach the street level addict if it's going to be useful, warns
Delta police Supt. Brad Parker.

Parker, who has organized a series of recent community meetings
detailing the horrors of crystal meth addiction, said the provincial
government's announcement this week to add $8 million to its annual
addiction budget is positive.

"Any step like that is good but I hope it's not eaten up in
administration costs," he said. "Where it needs to be is at the street
level for (treatment) beds and counselling. I look forward to that
happening," he told the Optimist.

The money for crystal meth treatment options and youth addiction
services will be split among the province's six health authorities.
The Fraser Health Authority, in which Delta is one of several
communities served, will receive nearly $2 million.

While Health Minister George Abbott said the funding adds up to a 75
per cent increase in the number of treatment beds the actual numbers
are a little more sobering.

With the funding the total number of treatment beds in the province
will reach 1,038, with just 158 dedicated to youth. In the Fraser
Health region that means $1.4 million will be used for 10 treatment
beds for youth.

For crystal meth, just over $550,000 will be used to hire six crystal
meth youth outreach workers for treatment as well as early prevention
initiatives.

B.C. is the first province to introduce a crystal meth strategy. Last
September, Premier Gordon Campbell announced a $7 million initiative
to address the spread of crystal meth use, $2 million of which went
into treatment programs.

Crystal meth is thought to be one of the most highly addictive drugs
on the streets. To feed their addiction, users are often the suspects
behind property crimes such as auto theft and break and enters.