NEW FUNDING FOR BATTLE AGAINST CRYSTAL METH

The explosion of crystal methamphetamine use in B.C. was met with a
package of measures including an additional $7-million in funding,
Premier Gordon Campbell announced Friday.

B.C. Solicitor General John Les could not release details of the
premier's announcement at a meeting of Chilliwack B.C. Liberal party
members held last Tuesday.

But Les now says there is a "clear linkage" between mental health and
addiction, and the B.C. government is now spending more than
$1-billion annually on mental health and addiction services.

"It's equally important to make sure not one more British Columbian
becomes addicted to crystal meth," he says.

The anti-meth package includes:

$2 million for the Union of B.C. Municipalities to help communities
fight crystal meth by providing $10,000 seed grants to every community
in the province that wants to participate, and similar community-level
programs for First Nations;

$3 million in the next year on a "major public awareness campaign" to
educate parents, youth and others on what the drug does to those who
fall prey to its destructive powers. School-based initiatives will get
$1 million and $2 million will be spent on a public advertising campaign;

$2 million for targeted treatment programs similar to the Meth Kickers
program in Kamloops;

Regional seminars organized by the Solicitor General to inform
communities about the dangers of crystal meth.

"The only harm reduction strategy that works ... is never to take it
in the first place," Les says. "The first dose you take can kill you -
and it has done that."

He says even addicts hooked on heroin and cocaine complain about their
drug of choice being "laced" with crystal meth.

"They know that and they resent it because they hate crystal
meth."

A public forum on crystal meth hosted by the City of Chilliwack is
scheduled for Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at Evergreen Hall.

Campbell also announced the establishment of a new secretariat, under
the Ministry of Solicitor General, that will work with all aspects of
government to co-ordinate the crystal meth fight and help communities
look at strategies that they can use to effectively fight the
"invasive" drug.

Les says Chilliwack will be eligible for part of the $2-million fund
to raise community awareness, and that there are private, non-profit
models like the Fraser House in Mission and other Meth Watch programs
to sound the alarm about crystal meth.

"We need to fight crystal meth on all fronts," he says. "Parents need
to be involved, teachers need to be involved, everybody needs to be on
Meth Watch as far as I'm concerned."

The Chilliwack General Hospital recently opened 11 beds here for
addiction treatment.

Campbell also pledged to continue working with the federal government
as it works on its commitment to toughen penalties and sentencing for
dealers and meth labs.

"We will continue to press for tougher controls on ingredients for
crystal meth, like ephedrine, pseudo-ephedrines, and other
precursors," Campbell says in a news release. "British Columbia is
leading the national fight against crystal meth in an integrated and
aggressive fashion, and we want to continue that leadership because
that's how we'll protect our children in British Columbia."