CRYSTAL METHOD

Can the government save us from the scourge of crystal meth? Unlikely.
However, they're pushing hard for us to believe it.

The federal government's recent announcement of life in prison for crystal
meth producers and stiffer penalties for importers, dealers and users
appears to be a step forward upon first glance.

But the latest war on crystal meth, like previous wars on other so-called
drugs of the week, is a tough win and one not easily legislated into
submission.

Similarly, when the government persists in slashing substance abuse
programming while back-patting itself for increased sentencing, something's
amiss.

Are we not seeing yet another band-aid approach to a bigger problem.

Whether the crystal meth epidemic lives up to the epic proportions
politicians and media have hyped it to be is debatable.

A recent meth feature in Newsweek Magazine prompted the headline "Americas
most dangerous drug" plastered over its front cover. But Americans are
notorious for jumping all over this kind of stuff.

Remember Nancy Reagan? Have you witnessed the recent state of the U.S.
penal system? One of every 140 U.S. residents is now in prison or in jail,
states the Department of Justice in its 2003 prisoner statistics - many for
drug-related crime.

Locking-up drug users is one thing. But compared to the devastation from
legalized drugs like tobacco and alcohol on those still walking the
streets, the impact of drugs like crystal meth on the overall Canadian
population is minimal.

In communities like Castlegar, however, there's no ignoring the existing
prevalence of the meth. In fact, it's rural areas, many in B.C., where meth
is hitting hardest, say addiction experts. This is because meth is easy to
produce and cheap.

Crystal meth is produced in small, clandestine labs, sometimes in a kitchen
or bathroom, by mixing a cocktail of about 15 substances - an ugly
concoction of things like cold medicine, ammonia, paint thinner, ether,
Drano and lithium from batteries.

Police say an investment of $150 can yield up to $10,000 worth of the drug.

Users can suffer brain damage, memory impairment and an increasing
inability to grasp abstract thoughts.

Those managing to recover from addiction and retain memory and the ability
to function in society are usually subject to memory gaps and mood swings.

Ability and inability to function in society is a telling feature
separating abusers from those managing to withstand. And before the
government can save us, we need to save ourselves first.

Increased social services is a means towards achieving that end. Increased
sentencing, however, is questionable.