COUNCIL TO LEARN ABOUT METH

A lunch and learn on methamphetamine is being held in Taber on Monday, and
two local town councillors, who volunteer with Vauxhall Emergency Medical
Services, will act as messengers for Vauxhall.

Coun. Chuck Pozzo, who heads Vauxhall Emergency Medical Services and Coun.
Lee Green, who volunteers with Vauxhall EMS, are going to the session on meth.

They will share information they gain about the highly-addictive drug,
which is 10 times more powerful than regular speed, with the local
emergency crew and town council.

The gathering is being held to teach business owners about the drug and
make them aware of when to be suspicious of customers buying the products
used to make methamphetamine.

"We just want to know what we are up against and to see how bad things
really are," said Green.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it (meth) has been here. When you watch the
news, you see it all over the place."

At the session, business representatives will receive posters indicating
what is used to make the drug. They can display the signs where customers
can see them or in staff areas.

Meth ingredients include cold remedies with ephedrine, chemical solvents
and apparatus. Some chemicals that can be used are brake cleaners, rubbing
alcohol and iodine. Cold remedies included are common pills containing
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. Products such as aluminum foil, funnels and
coffee filters can be used as apparatus.

Business owners are cautioned to be leery when people buy combinations of
the ingredients or purchase the products in excess.

After attending the lunch and learn, Green plans to encourage Vauxhall
Co-op Agro Centre, his place of employment, to put up meth posters. He
added he would suggest other business do the same.

"I think that is all anyone wants to do -- is get the word out," said Green.

Along with learning about what is required to make meth, Green hopes to
find out more about signs and symptoms to watch for to know if someone is
on the drug. He also wants to learn what factors emergency services
personnel should be aware of. While Vauxhall EMS has not responded to a
fire caused by meth production, Pozzo has heard of it happening in other
locations.

He told council that people involved in those types of fires die after
receiving third-degree burns all over.

"It would be more like an explosion. It would be over by time we got there
- - I would think," said Green. "I think it is pretty fast and sudden when
you are dealing that that."

He added after putting the fire out, emergency personnel would only do
anything else if they were advised to by police.

If police officers encounter a meth lab, they ensure the place is secure,
remove people from the premises and call in a Calgary hazard unit. 7