MUST WE BE DRACONIAN IN CRYSTAL METH FIGHT?

Already a huge problem in much of the U.S. and a growing one in Canada's
western provinces, crystal meth is becoming an increasingly worrisome issue
here in Ontario.

The illegal drug is comparatively cheap and produces a lengthy high which
doubtless contributes to its growing popularity with young people. It is
also highly addictive and has devastating side effects like hallucinations,
violence and heart problems, which apparently does little to deter users.

The province has already set up a special committee to look at ways to
combat the spread of the drug and, this week, announced police will get
more training to that end.

About $230,000 in government funding is to be used to build and equip a
mock lab at the Ontario Police College in Aylmer for baking up the illegal
drug, also known as methamphetamine. The lab will also include a mock
marijuana grow-op to help train officers to identify and dismantle such
installations.

While we are pleased to see these proactive measures being taken,
particularly the setting up of the task force by Ontario's Ministry of
Community Safety and Correctional Services, it is important to let this
working group assemble as much information as possible before taking
drastic measures.

For example, although still in its infancy, the committee has indicated it
will examine the feasibility of regulating the sale of some popular cold
and allergy medications that contain pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient
used to make crystal methamphetamine.

Requiring a prescription for such common over-the-counter medications as
Sudafed, Actifed and Contac strikes us as a tad draconian.

These medications are used by millions of Canadians to get some relief from
cold and allergy symptoms -- many of who don't even have family doctors.

Do we really need to penalize all those who legitimately use these
medications -- not to mention putting a huge burden on our already
overwhelmed health care system -- because of abuse by a few?

We don't doubt for a minute the problem needs to be addressed sooner rather
than later -- Belleville Police Chief Steve Tanner has already served
notice that methamphetamine is the next major problem facing cities and
towns -- but surely there are less drastic, and costly, measures that can
be used to combat the spread of this scourge?

In the case of cold medications, it takes a fairly large quantity of them
to make crystal meth.

It could be that simply keeping them behind the pharmacist's counter would
be deterrent enough to abusers. Certainly it would allow better monitoring
of who is buying the drugs, and how much.