IT'S BEEN CLOSE TO A YEAR SINCE THE HIGHLY-ADDICTIVE DRUG CRYSTAL METH
BEGAN REARING ITS UGLY HEAD IN THE SMITHERS AREA AND POLICE SAY IT'S
NOT GOING ANYWHERE SOON

RCMP On Crystal Meth: It's Still Here

It's been close to a year since the highly-addictive drug crystal meth
began rearing its ugly head in the Smithers area and police say it's not
going anywhere soon.

"It's still here," Cpl. Sheila White admits.

"We haven't busted any labs and we don't have any information of any
operating in our area, but we're not naive enough to think that they don't
exist," White says. "The labs are so easy to put together that they can go
undetected for a long time."

Labs can be set up in a small spaces, such as apartments or basements, and
many are often located in rental units. All of the ingredients needed to
produce crystal meth are available locally, she added, noting all people
have to do is search the Internet to learn how to set up a lab.

As for access to the drug itself, White says it is easy to get, especially
for middle and secondary school students. The target group for crystal meth
is kids between 13 and 15 years old because once they are hooked, they stay
hooked. Some might eventually progress to harder drugs, she says.

"It's like any sales tactic: if you hit them young, then you've got a
long-term customer potentially."

In this area, crystal meth initially made its way onto the public
consciousness last June after police revealed a spate of residential
break-ins were committed by users attempting to get money or things to sell
in order to buy drugs. Over the past few months, police have again been
busy with countless break-ins, most of which White says have a drug connection.

"There is a direct connection between break and enters [and] people trying
to get enough money to supply their habits."

For parents wanting to know what some of the warning signs might be if
their child is using crystal meth, White says the biggest thing to look for
is a change in behaviour.

She encourages parents not to turn a blind eye, especially if their son or
daughter's habits change drastically or they have a new group of friends.

Lois Hobley, a member of the Community Crystal Meth Advisory Committee,
says the group is waiting to hear if funding has been approved for a
community education blitz. She says the committee will continue to work in
the community regardless of the funding announcement, which could be made
within the next few weeks.

In the meantime, an information display about the drug has been posted by
the Bulkley Valley Brain Injury Association on the bulletin board outside
the Smithers post office.