Pubdate: Sat, 23 Feb 2002
Source: Burnaby Newsleader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Burnaby Newsleader
Contact:  http://www.burnabynewsleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1315
Author: Michael McQuillan

METH: THE NEXT EPIDEMIC?

Like storm clouds moving in over the mountains, a drug epidemic is looming 
over the Lower Mainland, destined to hit the region with gale force. And 
although showers have already started, police warn the worst is yet to come.

The black cloud is methamphetamine, a highly addictive central nervous 
system stimulant that can be manufactured in a bathroom using legally 
purchased chemicals and drugs. It can be smoked, snorted, injected or 
swallowed.

Methamphetamine - also known as meth, speed, ice, crystal, crank, among 
other names - produces temporary hyperactivity, euphoria and the feeling of 
increased energy. A high can last as long as eight hours.

But longtime users' experiences with the drug are different and anything 
but euphoric.

They deal with a psychosis similar to schizophrenia, resulting in paranoia, 
picking at the skin, self-absorption and hallucinations. The irritability 
and paranoia produces the potential for violence among users, according to 
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). And because the drug is a 
neurotoxin, it can cause brain damage. Other side effects include premature 
aging, teeth rot, hair loss and heart damage.

Cops that work in drug enforcement call it "a very ugly drug."

And like Greater Vancouver's wet weather, there appears to be no stopping 
meth from becoming the future drug of choice in the Lower Mainland, they say.

"We can probably expect something similar to what we experienced with 
(crack) cocaine. It could be worse, we can only guess," says Insp. Mike 
Littlejohn with the Organized Crime Agency (OCA) of B.C. "Is it as popular 
as heroin or cocaine right now? No, but it's moving rapidly in that direction."

"It's an ugly drug. It's very, very addictive and has almost no 
recreational use whatsoever. Anyone who thinks they can use it occasionally 
on a Friday or Saturday night is quickly mistaken," says Corp. Doug Culver, 
who also works with the OCA.

Most Canadian police intelligence on the meth drug trade comes from what 
the Americans have experienced and are still going through. That 
information makes Littlejohn fearful for the future.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency sees meth as "the fastest growing threat 
in America today." In California, where the drug trade is most active, 
nearly 3,000 meth labs were discovered in 1999.

Expect a similar scenario here, says Littlejohn.

In the last two months, police in Canada have been involved in two major 
meth investigations resulting in arrests and seizures. In January, RCMP 
working with American drug enforcement agencies made more than 100 arrests 
in both countries. Labs in California and Canada were busted, leading to 
the seizure of meth and its precursors.

Earlier this month, Calgary Police, the RCMP and the OCA arrested 14 
individuals and discovered labs in Kelowna, Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Surrey.

The OCA, in a press conference last week, said those arrested in the B.C. 
investigation all have ties to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

The potential to make profit will fuel this drug trade, said Littlejohn, 
who expects organized crime to play a major hand in the production and 
distribution of the drug.

There is that potential when you consider a pound of marijuana is worth 
$2,500 to $2,800 but a pound of meth is priced at $12,000.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens