CHOKING OFF METH SUPPLIES

The city is increasing its call to arms against a drug that's
ravaging Surrey youth and fuelling crime in this city.

Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis says he's "raising the bar" on an
initiative to choke off crystal methamphetamine (meth) at its source
- -- the household items bought to make the drug.

Garis delivered a report to council Monday reminding elected
officials of the alarming trend regarding meth, a relatively cheap
and highly addictive drug. It can be easily made and is sold for
about $5 a dose on the street.

A 2005 study of Surrey schools indicated 1,260 (nine per cent) of the
14,000 high school students surveyed had used meth, with 980 youth
saying they used it on school grounds.

Three per cent of Grade 8 students and four per cent of Grade 9s said
they used the drug more than once a week.

The physical effect of the drug is devastating and its links to crime
are proven. Police estimate at least 70 per cent of auto thieves are
chronic meth users.

The Surrey Fire Service and RCMP will be attacking the problem on
several fronts -- including asking retailers to refuse to sell large
quantities of the substances used to make crystal meth, including
cold and allergy remedies, drain cleaner and camp stove fuel.

Through regular inspections, fire crews will identify locations where
meth may be manufactured. Landlords will be notified of the
appropriate precautions to take in order to prevent that from happening.

Other city departments will distribute information brochures to the
public, while garbage crews will be schooled in how to spot potential
meth labs.

In the past two years, the State of Washington has cut the number of
meth labs in half by using similar methods. While Washington created
laws requiring participation on the part of private business, Garis
is hoping retailers will voluntarily support the program.

"If we can get them participating, we're bound to have some effects,"
Garis said Monday. "The objective is to make it so compelling, that
they can't not belong to it."