CRYSTAL METH SURPASSES COCAINE USE

A report released last week has shown B.C. has the highest level of
meth-amphetamine consumption in Canada.

The study showed that 5.1 per cent of British Columbians - about
190,000 people - used the drug, commonly called 'crystal meth,' last
year. In addition about 7.3 per cent of B.C.'s population had tried
the drug at least once.

"We've been seizing it here for years," Prince George RCMP spokesman
Cst. Mike Caira said. "Crystal meth has surpassed cocaine use among
young people. It's the second most commonly used drug after cannabis
marijuana."

UNBC professor John Cutcliff is a board member of the Centre for
Addictions Research of B.C. and said crystal meth is currently "in
vogue" with young drug users.

"What is extremely challenging about it is it is often produced
locally and is extremely accessible. The so-called quality control of
the product can be variable," Cutcliff said. "It's cheap, it's widely
available and it does have a lot of addictive properties."

While use of cocaine is typically limited to those with large amounts
of disposable income because of the cost, crystal meth is within most
drug-users price range, he said. In addition a crystal meth high can
last between 10 and 12 hours, much longer than cocaine.

Crystal meth can cause a wide range of health problems, most notably
psychosis.

Currently penalties for possession and trafficking of crystal meth are
lower than those for heroine or cocaine. However, Cutcliff said, the
drug is certainly in the same calibre of danger as those two.

"There is little doubt that if you abuse meth you're going to be
medically and psychologically screwed," Cutcliff said.