THREE-PRONGED ATTACK IN METH WAR

Battle plans were drawn Thursday as Maple Ridge readies for war
against crystal meth.

At the meeting held in the Arts Centre and Theatre, over 100 people
gathered to listen, learn and talk about the grave effects the highly
addictive drug has wrought on the community.

Former addicts, a mother of a 21-year-old man who lost his life in
part by the drug, the RCMP, both MLAs, health authority
representatives, the school district, Maple Ridge staff and council,
drug treatment councillors, and everyday people who have seen the
evils of crystal meth touch too close to home were on hand.

"We were blown away. We figured when we started 25 (people) would be
good," said Gord Robson, of the high turnout, adding the numbers are
an accurate reflection of just how serious a problem crystal meth is
in Maple Ridge.

"Most people there came because they knew the size if the problem."

One former addict who spoke said crystal meth today is rampant on the
streets of Maple Ridge and people don't have to look far to see its
impact.

"It's just plain everywhere. Every corner I turn it's still there,"
the man said.

The declaration of war on crystal meth was sounded by Robson's wife
Mary earlier this month. She has pledged during her term as president
of the Meadowridge Rotary Club she will lead the charge to combat
crystal meth, something she called the "devil of all drugs."

The battle will be fought on three fronts - with a trio of task forces
established focusing on education, addiction treatment, and
enforcement.

Working with School District 42, the education committee will begin
work on developing programs geared toward youth in local schools
warning about the perils of becoming involved with meth. A overall
public education campaign is also in the works aimed at getting the
message out that Maple Ridge has a crystal meth problem.

In Maple Ridge there isn't a single direct treatment or detox bed in
place for a meth addict seeking help. That, too, will hopefully change
as the treatment side of the task force gets down to work," said Robson.

The RCMP will examine the issues surrounding enforcement and how meth
dealers and users are handled within the justice system by lobbying
the Solicitor General.

"We as a police service recognize that meth is a problem in this
community and we are committed to working to reduce and resolve the
issues in conjunction with all the other committed stakeholders," said
Insp. Janice Armstrong, officer in charge of the Ridge Meadows RCMP,
in a prepared statement, adding work need to be done to illustrate to
the courts the "immense impact" meth is having on the community.

"We need to work to ensure that the sentences are appropriate to the
crime," she said.

Robson says the three committees will spend the next month organizing
a plan of attack in preparation for a "full court press" campaign on
meth to be rolled out in September.