CAMPBELL PLEDGES FUNDS FOR CRYSTAL METH PROGRAMS

B.C. Premier Responds To Cities' Demands With $7 Million And A New
Crystal Meth Secretariat

Premier Gordon Campbell pledged $7 million to fight crystal
methamphetamine (meth) addictions at the Union of British Columbia
Municipalities (UBCM) convention Sept. 29.

A resolution passed at the UBCM convention earlier that week demanded
the government make a number of changes to deal with the growing
problem of crystal meth abuse and addiction in B.C.

The Liberal government responded with $3 million dollars for public
education programs, $2 million for community awareness programs, and
$2 million for detoxification treatment programs. "Regarding the
recent announcements, we're encouraged that the provincial government
is taking crystal meth seriously," said Mark McLaughlin, president of
the Crystal Meth Victoria Society, in response to the government's
plan. "We are waiting to learn more about how the grants will be
distributed. We are pleased to see some support for treatment
programs, but we need to see more of this as well as innovative
programs for implementation."

Crystal meth is a synthetic stimulant drug that induces a strong
feeling of euphoria and is highly psychologically addictive. The
original UBCM resolution asked for limited public access to the
over-the-counter ingredients used to make the street drug, funding for
programs to increase public awareness, assistance to deal with at-risk
groups, funding for addiction treatment, and additional policing and
safety inspections.

In addition to the promised funding, the Premier announced that
regional seminars organized by the Solicitor General will be delivered
to inform communities about the spread of crystal meth use, and a new
provincial government position for a crystal meth secretariat will be
created within the Ministry of the Solicitor General.

"We know one thing for sure--successful prevention and treatment
programs start at the street level and in local communities," Campbell
said. "They work when communities drive them. These initiatives will
help municipal leaders engage in helping the provincial government
solve the crystal meth problem in British Columbia. Young people in
B.C. depend on us doing that."

The Crystal Meth Victoria Society, a non-profit, volunteer-run
society, is sceptical about whether Campbell's government will be
successful in solving the problem.

"The province can do what the province can do, but the communities
themselves need to be proactive to deal with this issue," said
McLaughlin. "Regarding treatment programs, we need to see more
[money]--$2 million is just a beginning. When you put that out to
different communities it isn't a huge amount, but it's better than
nothing."

With only five detox beds currently serving the whole of Vancouver
Island, the need is great, says Jagrup Brar, NDP MLA for Maple Ridge
and Public Safety and Solicitor General critic. He and his party
support the UBCM resolution.

"Two million dollars will bring in 28 beds in all the province," he
said. "People in different communities are ready and willing to work
on this and they need the support and resources to help them."

The groups leading the fight against crystal meth face a lot of
roadblocks. One of the challenges is liaising with the 13
municipalities in the Capital Regional District, two hospitals and
several police departments. Another is a lack of credible statistics.

"The police are only now starting to have an outlook for recording
data that has a meth angle to it, the prisons are only now thinking in
terms of having a line in their forms that says meth involvement. When
we're asked for hard statistics it's very engaging to reply," said
McLaughlin. "I think there's a huge unmet need of leadership and
information on crystal meth addiction. There are so many families in
duress as a result of a family member's addiction."

For more information on crystal meth addiction and the Crystal Meth
Victoria Society, visit http://www.crystalmethbc.ca.