METH PROBLEM LIKE 'WAR' IN COMMUNITIES

It was straight talk and honest answers for members of the Oceanside
Community Crystal Meth Task Force this week as they met with
organizers of the Maple Ridge team that inspired them.

The SOS Child, Youth and Family Centre played host to Gordon and Mary
Robson Tuesday afternoon, organizers of a task force in Maple Ridge
that helped combat the use of crystal meth in their community.

Their task force outline is what Oceanside is using for their own
plan, says chair Kevin Wilson.

They could stand in and say 'if you do this, this is what happens',
and give them real concrete solutions," says Wilson of the help those
with experience can give this area's new force.

The Maple Ridge group made headlines when, after discovering their
homeless problem was really a crystal meth problem, began directly
focusing on eliminating it from the area.

Harm reduction is maybe a saleable thing with other drugs ... you
can't do that with meth," says Gordon of some of the basic ideas in
their approach.

In their three-pronged, 10-committee plan (focusing on education,
enforcement and treatment), Gordon says they had to be creative.

Just like knocking on doors for Joe Blow, we're knocking on doors for
meth," says Gordon as one example of increasing awareness in the area.

Through a bylaw committee, Gordon says the team was able to hike up
fines for property owners if a meth lab was found on their property.

That, he says, made a difference for people renting out homes.

They also classified stolen grocery buggies as stolen vehicles, and
confiscated them from addicts on the streets.

Often, along with the carts, they would be confiscating items an
addict had picked up and planned to sell to support their habit.

A volunteer also helped keep judges, prosecutors and defense
attorneys aware of the real reason behind many of the mischief and
break-and-enter charges taken to court.

We're getting different kinds of sentences," says Gordon, explaining
that more rehab is being passed down than jail time.

While those were only a few of the tips given by Gordon, many more
were shared. He asked the group, if it was a war and people were
injured, you're under attack in the community, what would you do?"

Wilson says the meeting was informative, and will help the nearly 80
people now signed up for different committees to get started on their
plans, which are due Aug. 9.

It was a real support for probably the best method of doing things,"
says Wilson.