METH WARNINGS COMING TRUE

More than two years ago, police in Burnaby and New Westminster were
warning the public about the dangers of methamphetamine - crystal meth
as it's called on the street. They warned the drug could soon replace
crack cocaine as the "drug of choice" because of its
availability.

Those warnings are coming true.

Health officials are sounding the alarm as more and more people -
particularly the young - are becoming ensnared by this cheap,
addictive and debilitating drug.

The Fraser Health Authority has formed a task force to look at the
issues surrounding crystal meth. The goal is to get the message out
about how to identify meth users and how to help them.

The group will study intervention and treatment programs in other
health authorities, learn from their initiatives, and bring them here
where there are currently none. The task force will have its first
meeting this month.

In the meantime, it is important that we become better aware of
crystal meth and its implications. Its allure is a cheap and
long-lasting high - something that appeals to the young.

But its danger is in its chemical make up. Sustained use, experts say,
can actually rewire the brain and cause permanent damage.

Education is always our best weapon. So it is incumbent on us to learn
what we can, then share that information with our children and loved
ones.