WAR WAGED ON METH USE

Community agencies united at a workshop Friday to wage war on Prince
Albert's burgeoning crystal meth problem.

"We can't use one lens to deal with crystal meth," said Linda Nosbush,
an organizer of the crystal methamphetamine workshop.

"It's important for the community to come together to understand the
complex nature of crystal meth addiction."

On Friday morning, staff from Parkland Ambulance, Victoria Hospital,
Saskatchewan Rivers School Division, Prince Albert fire department,
and the City Police and RCMP's joint forces unit gave presentations on
how crystal meth is affecting their areas. It was the first time such
groups have met to discuss the drug's effect on Prince Albert.

At Victoria Hospital, for instance, crystal meth is disrupting the
emergency department. People who are admitted for a crystal meth
overdose are often very agitated. These "obnoxious" cases can make it
unpleasant for other patients and visitors, said Sharon Griffin,
manager of the hospital's nursing unit.

The effects of a crystal meth overdose also last longer than other
substances, resulting in extended hospital stays.

When a teenager was recently taken to emergency for an overdose of
crystal meth and cocaine, staff had to keep the youth restrained on a
stretcher for 13 hours.

The city needs a medical detox centre to deal with these cases, said
Giffen.

Among hospital staff, Prince Albert has the reputation of being the
"overdose capital of the world," said Giffen.

Prince Albert's crystal meth problem is on par with Saskatoon or
Regina, said Sgt. Al Hofland of the Prince Albert joint forces unit.
So far this year, the city has had 31 reports of crystal meth
trafficking, said Hofland. The number of reports has steadily
increased since the drug burst onto the city scene about four years
ago.

"It's becoming more and more the drug of choice," said
Hofland.

In Prince Albert, crystal meth users don't fit stereotypes, say
members of the joint forces unit. Many have never been involved with
the police and aren't having trouble at school.

"There is no reason for these kids to be using this in our minds,"
said an officer who didn't want to be identified because of the nature
of his work.

While the drug was first popular among middle class youth in Prince
Albert, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are now using
crystal meth, too.

"Crystal meth affects everyone in this room. We all pay," Craig
Harper, battalion chief with the Prince Albert fire department, told
the capacity crowd in the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division
conference room.

The drug comes with a hefty price tag, said Harper. To clean up a
"chem house," where crystal meth is made, costs about $2,000 per hour
and require 26 staff members, said Harper.

Any house where the drug is made is considered a toxic waste site. It
cost the fire department $20,000 to buy the four hazardous waste suits
that must be worn to enter such a house.

To date,no crystal meth labs have been found in Prince Albert.
However, Harper discovered 500 light bulbs, which are used to smoke
crystal meth, during a local house fire last fall.

The crystal meth workshop ended Friday afternoon with round-table
discussions on how the community can deal with the drug.