METH REPORTS EXAGGERATED, RESEARCHER FINDS

Recent media reports of the amount of crystal meth use in B.C. is way
off base, a local expert says.

Centre for Addictions Research of B.C director Tim Stockwell was
eating his breakfast cereal last week when he read that about 190,000
B.C. residents used amphetamine-type substances like crystal meth last
year.

"I was immediately suspicious," Stockwell said.

It turns out that the right information for the wrong question was
reported, he said. That number actually refers to those who had used
amphetamine-type substances in their lifetime, not just last year.

"I don't think we need people getting hysterical," Stockwell
said.

Stockwell didn't blame the media for sending out the wrong
information, but said the report where the information was taken from
was written "too hurriedly."

The information came from a 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey compiled
last November.

It turns out that actual estimates found that only 0.6 per cent of
respondents reported using amphetamine-type drugs in the previous
year. This equates to approximately 22,000 B.C. residents - about
one-tenth of the reported estimate.

"It's not as mainstream as it's being made out," said Stockwell,
noting that such drugs are often only used by people living on the
streets.

In 2003, 12 deaths were reported associated with crystal meth. By
contrast, 1,789 deaths associated with alcohol use were reported in
2004 and many more from tobacco.

"That's not to say crystal meth isn't an issue," said Stockwell adding
that the drug is gaining momentum in B.C.

The report was given to health and justice ministers from the western
provinces and territories to review last weekend, but the information
in the report was corrected, Stockwell said.