AWARENESS IS KEY

Editor: I want to thank The Times for a timely focus (Jan. 6) on the
dangers of crystal meth.

Crystal meth is a dirty, filthy drug that threatens to ruin the lives
of people who experiment with it. It poses an exceptional risk to our
young people, as it's cheap and accessible.

Using crystal meth can cause heart failure and induce psychosis. It
is a killer.

B.C. was the first province to develop a strategy to address the
problem of crystal meth. "Crystal Meth and Other Amphetamines: An
Integrated B.C. Strategy" was released in August 2004. It has been a
model approach for all other provinces to follow.

We're working together with pharmacies, police and retailers to
identify bulk sales or thefts of crystal meth ingredients so that we
can uncover and stop those who are manufacturing this drug.

The B.C. government is also working with federal officials to make
sure meth ingredients aren't being smuggled into Canada, as meth
producers rely primarily on the illegal import of ephedrine.

About 1,000 addiction treatment beds are available across British
Columbia to help those addicted get clean, and we're the only western
province with specialized youth detox beds. A total of $7 million has
been made available for community and school-based programs, a major
public awareness campaign and for targeted treatment programs.

I think we can all agree that crystal meth is one of the most
dangerous threats to young people today. Education and awareness are
key to halting the spread of this killer.

Mary Polak, MLA

Langley