NEW ALBERTA INITIATIVE TO COMBAT METH PRODUCTION

Joint force between Council on Drug Abuse and Shoppers Drug Mart

Meth, crank, crystal, ice, speed, poor man's coke, chalk, and tweak
are all just some of the names for a drug that is causing a lot of
problems and addictions.

Crystal meth is a drug that is manufactured with common house hold
products, some that are sold in the hardware store and others that are
sold at a pharmacy.

On Tuesday, the Council on Drug Abuse (CODA) announced a national
Crystal Meth education program.

The program is set to launch in Alberta next month.

Between Life & Death: The Crystal Meth Explosion is targeted for all high
school students, users or non-users. Senior CODA consultant Dr. Ron Clavier
believes it is important to get the youth to overcome the attraction of
this drug that is so powerful and destructive.

Shoppers Drug Mart is one of the founding members of CODA and will
help fund the program. CODA was established in 1969.

"Education is definitely a key component to tackling the major issues
communities across the country are facing with the production and use
of methamphetamine among young Canadians," says Virginia Cirocco,
senior vice president, pharmacy, Shoppers Drug Mart.

The new program is designed to education students about meth, why it
has the effects it does, as well as offers assistance for users.

Meth is a highly addictive stimulate that greatly effects the central
nervous system.

Some of the ingredients in meth include: paint thinner, rubbing
alcohol, iodine and ephedrine.

The program will also address issues including peer pressure,
addiction, and the long and short-term effects of meth.

Each program session will also have an open question and answer
program.