METH MESSAGE

Taking Meth Is A Deadly Game

One $5 hit can have crippling consequences, attacking the central
nervous system and giving a high so powerful that officials say the
user can instantly become an addict.

According to a provincial report, more people have sought help for
meth abuse in the last five years in the Fraser Health Authority (FHA)
than any other region in B.C. The Tri-Cities is one of the worst
areas, with increasing numbers of young women in the clutches of the
drug.

This past spring, RCMP uncovered a meth lab in Port Coquitlam - an
operation so loaded that police said it could have blown at any time.

To combat the problem, the city of PoCo last week rolled out its Meth
Watch program, a drive to get retailers who sell meth ingredients to
work with the police and fire department to curb the spread of meth
production.

Participating retailers are asked to post Meth Watch stickers to warn
meth producers that their actions are under scrutiny. Staff seeing a
customer buying the products in bulk are asked to turn the patron away
and/or to call an RCMP chemical diversion hotline.

Meth Watch has been working in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows since
March. Mounties here say the education campaign has been a success in
terms of making retailers and law enforcement officials more aware of
what's going on in the community.

But it's difficult to say what type of impact Meth Watch is having on
criminals. Meth remains a scourge in that community, like the
Tri-Cities, likely because meth producers can easily drive to the next
community to buy their goods by the case load. Still, pro-active
measures are being taken. Retailers need to be vigilant about meth and
send a message that it's not okay to do business here.