HIKE IN HEISTS LINKED TO METH

Cops Fear Methamphetamine Epidemic

A possible link between a spike in both methamphetamine use and robberies
is setting off alarm bells for city police.

Deputy Chief Mike Bradshaw told The Sun robberies in January and February
rose 55% - notably at convenience stores - over the same period in 2002.
That comes as city detectives suggest methamphetamine use - which doctors
say can cause users to be violent - has doubled in each of the last two
years and is in danger of becoming an "epidemic."

"The emerging trend is a little alarming in that not only are we seeing an
increase in robberies with the potential for violence, but this is
corresponding with another menace that's out there, and that's the rise in
use of speed and methamphetamines," said Bradshaw.

In a report to the Edmonton police commission this week, cops said
robberies jumped from 171 in the first two months of last year to 264 this
year. That includes a spike in robberies with weapons. Violent crime,
property crime and auto theft also rose during the same period, said police.

Although cops don't record ties between drugs and individual robberies,
Det. Pete Cherniawsky said anecdotal evidence suggests a "scary" meth
increase is a major factor.

"Ask any detective - in robbery, fraud, auto theft, even family violence -
and you will be told that those crimes are going to increase because of the
ramifications of meth," said Cherniawsky, with the drug unit.

"Meth is extremely addictive and users are going to need to get the money
(to buy it) from somewhere. It's a drug that seems to make you paranoid and
violent - the cost to society is extremely high."

There were just two meth lab drug busts in Edmonton in 2001 but eight since
September, and Cherniawsky expects that to double by the end of 2003. But
he admitted police generally only find labs when there's a fire or from
tips, because the chemicals needed for meth are freely available in stores.

"The amount of meth out there is phenomenal - there could be hundreds of
labs in Edmonton," said Cherniawsky. "I would say methamphetamine is the
number 3 drug in Edmonton after marijuana and cocaine. But if it follows
what has happened in the U.S. it's going to overshadow the cocaine problem
and it will become an epidemic here."

Meth is sold for about $60 a gram, compared to about $80 a gram for
cocaine. Its effects can last hours, rather than the 20-minute high a user
might get off coke.

David Cook, professor of pharmacology at the U of A, said use of the highly
addictive drug - like all amphetamines - has long been associated with
violence. He said a U.S. hospital study showed two-thirds of meth deaths
involved homicides and suicide, while overdoses accounted for just one-third.

RCMP Cpl. Harold Trupish said methamphetamine use is also rife in rural
Alberta, including Edson and Hinton.

The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission reported a jump in
methamphetamine addiction over the last 18 months but hasn't tracked it
statistically.

Police said the spike in robberies came as homicide and some sex offences
declined. Violent crime was up 9% to 1,098 from 960 over the same period.
Auto theft also jumped 9%, from 1,089 to 1,187 and property crime increased
from 6,318 to 6,575 - about 4%. Business break and enters rose by 36%.