METH WILL BE MAJOR BATTLE IN AB

The battle against drugs continues to get more difficult with the
introduction of D-methamphetamine to the streets of Alberta.

This new, easily made and cheaply acquired drug has the Taber Police
Service very worried for the future and with good cause. A cheap, addictive
drug is exactly what the drug underworld has been searching for.

Cocaine hit the streets in the late 70s and early 80s and quickly became
the drug of choice because of its addictive power. The cost, however, was
restrictive. Along comes crack, a cocaine derivative that made the
processing of cocaine cheaper and easier. In no time, crack became the drug
of choice.

D-methamphetamine is easier and cheaper to produce than either cocaine or
crack. The process is fairly simple, yet dangerous. The street price makes
this drug accessible to a very large number of drug users, notably younger
drug users, and the addictive power suggests this will be a long battle for
police and drug support agencies.

Taber has yet to see meth use balloon into a major problem on the street,
but without preventative measures being taken by the Taber Police Service
it soon will be.

Education, especially among young people, will be key in keeping meth off
Taber streets. Getting the message out that meth is both highly addictive
and extremely dangerous will help stem the flow of the drug into Taber. If
that message is not given, people will not hesitate for a second to try
this new, cheap thrill.