SASKATOON'S CRYSTAL METH SCENE DEADLY, PARENTS OF ADDICTS WARN

SASKATOON -- At least 10 people have died in Saskatoon since January
from the highly addictive street drug known as crystal meth, but
people close to the drug scene say the actual number is likely even higher.

"I think we're being fairly safe with that guess. It's way too low,"
said Don Meikle, client services co-ordinator at EGADZ Youth Centre.

Ted Merriman of the Saskatchewan Party, whose daughter is a
recovering addict, insists the problem "is way more serious than we think."

The MLA for Saskatoon Northwest said that his daughter knows people
in the meth scene and scans the obituaries daily, pointing out those
she recognizes. He has accompanied her to so many funerals to show
support for the families of those whose lives have been stolen by
meth, Mr. Merriman said, that he has lost count.

In comparison, the number of homicides in 2004, Saskatoon's worst
year, was nine. "And we're just halfway through the bloody year," Mr.
Merriman said.

"Is that not an epidemic?" asked a woman who gave her name as Cathy,
whose 21-year-old son is trying to kick his crystal meth addiction at
the Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford. "If it was anything
else killing this many people, it would be an emergency. Why aren't
we doing more about this?"

The provincial coroner could not be reached for comment on the number
of deaths attributed to crystal meth.

It's difficult to tell how many meth victims there truly are, Mr. Meikle said.

"Street people don't rank high on society's list, so we don't hear
about it. Or they're [native victims] taken to their home reserve for
a burial and no one hears about it," he said.

Mr. Merriman said children from affluent or middle-income families
are also succumbing to the drug.

Graham Addley, the New Democrat MLA for Saskatoon Sutherland, has
studied the province's drug problems and recently completed a
40-page, 12-recommendation report. It is now in the hands of NDP
Premier Lorne Calvert and his cabinet, who are expected to deal with
it in the coming weeks.

Mr. Merriman wants to see meth-specific treatment centres in
Saskatchewan and a law that will allow parents to force their kids
into treatment.

Mr. Meikle agrees with the need for a treatment centre, but disagrees
with Mr. Merriman on how to get users into it.

"My biggest fear is a knee-jerk reaction, that would allow a youth to
be apprehended and held for 48 to 72 hours based simply on the belief
the individual is using meth," Mr. Meikle said. "It's a total
violation of somebody's rights.

However, Mr. Merriman believes strong, forceful steps are necessary.

"You can't take somebody that is irrational, high on drugs, and try
to explain to them rational thoughts," he said. "That's why the
apprehension thing is so critical."