CRYSTAL METH FORUM WILL FOCUS ON A PROBLEM THAT'S YET TO EMERGE

A meeting scheduled for later this month on crystal methamphetamine in
Kelowna will likely focus on 'what if' scenarios rather than 'what
is', say local health providers, police and school officials.

Some 75 to 80 influential Kelowna stakeholders are scheduled to meet
in preparation for provincial grant applications to tap into
provincial funds targeting crystal methamphetamine use.

It's a move recovering methamphetamine addict Sean F., who asked that
his last name not be printed, sees as highly important, though he
worries local officials are not taking the problem seriously.

Last week, Mayor Sharon Shepherd told the Capital News the drug is not
a major problem in the community to date. "I'm told that crystal meth
has not hit our community. The drug of choice is still crack cocaine,
however, we know that it is coming. Certainly crystal meth is of
concern and that's why we want to proactive," said Shepherd.

Now volunteering his time in the local school system to help youth
avoid the devastating drug, Sean took issue with the mayor's comments,
saying he has personally seen its effects and knows it is on Kelowna
streets.

But health care providers, police and school officials, all agreed the
issue has yet to rear its head on a large scale in Kelowna.

At Cross Roads Treatment Centre, one of only two detox facilities in
the Interior Health Authority, Crystal meth addiction is rarely listed
as a reason patients are admitted, according to Corrine Dolman, Cross
Roads executive director.

"It's still quite low," she said. "That could be for two reasons. One,
they may not be seeking treatment. Two, it's not the primary drug of
choice."

Dolman describes the drug as a fast-acting version of crack cocaine,
saying that addicts exhibit the same symptoms of permanent psychosis,
but are reduced to long-term problems much faster than with other drugs.

The same hypothesis could be applied to the school system where
crystal meth use appears negligible by current statistics. "It hasn't
really hit Kelowna at all," said director of instruction Peter Molloy,
whose portfolio includes drug awareness and disciplinary action.

After spending Tuesday morning with RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon talking
about drug issues, in particular the amount of ecstasy hitting the
city, Molloy said the issue has barely touched local schools, noting
they've only dealt with four students in the last two years on crystal
meth related problems.

Local RCMP liaison officer Const. Dean Childs suggests that those who
do get involved with crystal meth may fall from the system too quickly
to notice, but said the issue has yet to hit Kelowna from what he's
seen. Not that today's picture means there will not be problems
tomorrow "The schools themselves do not have a crystal meth problem.
The incidents of crystal meth use are so small, and the fact is that
the drug is so addictive and powerful that anybody who is on the drug
does not belong in a school anyway," he said.

Childs pointed out that crack cocaine is not a major problem either,
although it is the drug of choice on the street in Kelowna. "Our
concern, is the trend in North America is to move from crack cocaine
to crystal meth and it can happen very quickly. So we need to be very
conscious that the drug could be in Kelowna before people know it. And
that's only going to be alleviated by prevention."

In other B.C. cities where crystal meth has already hit, youth tend to
be heavily affected.

Last week the Crystal Meth Victoria Society presented recommendations
from three 90-day task forces targeting the drug at the educational,
economic and addictions level. A highlight of the program is a
flagship schools presentation targeting meth use among youth.