METH AWARENESS PLAN SET TO GO

The North Shore Crystal Meth Task Force is gearing up for the Jan. 9,
2006 launch of its 90-day Crystal Meth Awareness Campaign.

"(Crystal meth) presents a serious risk, versus other drugs," said
Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong of the North Vancouver RCMP.

Armstrong is serving as chairwoman of the task force's law enforcement
committee.

While actual numbers of users have been difficult to pinpoint - as
it's believed crystal methamphetamine is sometimes laced in other
drugs often unbeknownst to users - Armstrong says meth is on the North
Shore, and it is a problem.

Discussion regarding the creation of the task force started July 27
when residents and representatives of local government, law
enforcement and community service groups gathered at the North Shore
Salvation Army hall to discuss the prevalence of crystal meth use.

A second community meeting was held Sept. 6.

Gord Robson, a representative of the Meadowridge Rotary Club chaired
both North Shore meetings. Robson discussed Maple Ridge's approach to
dealing with local crystal meth use by forming a task force with three
sub-committees: law enforcement, public education, and treatment.

Strict time limits were imposed to ensure plans were activated.
Representatives of the Maple Ridge task force have continued to make
themselves available to other communities in the province, including
the North Shore, and advocated for their model to be adopted.

"We're coming together really well," said Armstrong. "I think we're
ahead of a lot of the other areas."

Whereas the Maple Ridge campaign primarily targeted homeless
individuals living in the community addicted to crystal meth, the
North Shore campaign is focused on local youth, Armstrong said.

Following Maple Ridge's model, the local task force has three
subcommittees whose members are busily working to get their ducks in a
row prior to the campaign's new year launch.

Armstrong said the law enforcement committee has already held a
meeting comprised of a number of stakeholders in the judicial system
that included judges, lawyers, board of parole representatives,
probation officers and addictions counsellors.

The committee has been examining what's happening in the courts and
whether there's any recommendations it can make to change the way
addicts are dealt with. For example, the committee is investigating
issues like mandatory treatment for addicts and whether it's an
effective type of treatment.

"The community awareness campaign is taking off," said Armstrong, in
regard to the task force's education committee's work. Some of the
youth involved in the committee have created an informational display
showing the effects of using crystal meth to sit in areas where young
people frequent, like malls.

"It was created by youth for youth," said Armstrong.

The committee is working with local schools, and has school trustees
onboard, to bring their message to as many local youth as possible.

"Instead of police officers lecturing to the youth and everybody, we
want to get the youth talking," said Armstrong. "That's who they listen to."

A number of young North Shore residents recovering from crystal meth
addiction have joined the committee in an effort to share their
respective stories.

As well, the committee hopes to place advertisements at North Shore
bus stops and create information pamphlets.

It is currently selling red bracelets for $2 that say I Pledge To Be
Drug Free, with proceeds going into the work of the task force.

The treatment committee has been investigating means of increasing
funding for addictions treatment, as well as the establishment of
local detox centres.

The task force also has a number of general initiatives underway
including the establishment of the Meth Watch program, which teaches
retailers what to look for to help stop crystal meth production as
it's ingredients are readily available over the counter.

It is also working on creating a first responders team able to deal
with uncovered North Shore meth labs.

There are a number of specific risks related to entering meth labs.
For example, if a fire occurs, water can't be put on the chemicals as
an explosion could occur.

The team will be comprised of police, firemen, paramedics, drug
addiction counsellors, and Environment Canada employees - due to the
waste created during the drug's production.

Armstrong said the task force plans on getting the North Vancouver
City Watch and North Vancouver District Watch onboard. The program
encourages municipal workers to keep their eyes and ears open for
suspicious or criminal activity as they go about their daily jobs in
the community.

"We're going to get them trained on what to look for, for meth
production," she said.

For example, garbage collection workers will be trained on what
discarded packaging could mean meth production is occurring at a residence.

The task force is comprised of more than 50 individuals representing a
range of municipal and community groups. Peter Defehr, community
ministries director for the North Shore Salvation Army is serving as
the task force's chairman.

Many community groups and businesses have been supporting the work of
the task force, both in the planning of the campaign, as well as in
fundraising efforts.

The task force unveiled the campaign at a public meeting held Nov. 9
at the North Shore Salvation Army hall located at 115 West 12th St.