Pubdate: Mon, 24 Nov 2003 Source: Parklander, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2003 Hinton Parklander Contact: http://www.hintonparklander.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/782 Author: Jodi Dolinsky Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) POLICING METH Hinton Parklander - Crystal meth, crank, crystal, speed, glass, ice, zip, go-fast, fire, grit. Whatever it gets called methamphetamine use is a serious problem that the RCMP in Hinton deal with on a regular basis, and it is not a topic they take lightly. A vast majority of RCMP resources in Hinton are spent on dealing with meth users and crime associated with meth, making detection and prosecution a priority for the organization. "Most incidents of theft in Hinton are meth related. One hundred per cent of our habitual property crime offenders are meth users and the crime is directly and exclusively meth related," said Cst. Simon Pillay, a Hinton RCMP officer. The distribution of meth is usually in crystal or powder form. In Hinton meth usually is white and looks how one would assume cocaine to appear, however it can also be red or brown depending on how it was produced. Pillay explains that although there are a number of ways to take meth, the majority of local users smoke it, and it is common for police to find glass pipes and related paraphernalia in a user's possession. Local "hardcore" users inject meth intravenously. Demographics Meth does not discriminate in Hinton. The meth using population varies in age from as young as 13 to as old as 50 years. Almost equal numbers of men and women use the drug. Hinton's population are mainly blue-collar workers hence the incidents of meth usage are more prevalent in the blue-collar sector of the community. "Unemployed, under-educated and long time Hinton resident," describes most of the meth users the RCMP has contact with. Users who elude contact with the RCMP usually are successful in doing so because they are not criminally active. Surprisingly, with the broad effects of meth use, including unpredictable behaviour and increase in violent acts, the rate of domestic violence between couples, attributed to meth use is not high in Hinton. "Conservatively speaking one could suggest that abuse between couples that is related to meth use would be about 10 per cent," says Pillay. However, abuse of parents at the hand of a user child is more likely around 40 per cent. Where are the labs? Meth labs in Hinton have yet to be uncovered by the RCMP. However it is believed that labs in houses, commercial spaces, cars and even outdoors exist, and despite heavy police involvement the proliferation of methamphetamine continues to grow. "The meth users that we deal with are the ones who have become the greatest criminal problems," Pillay said, "Further, as we prosecute meth dealers, they close down an operation and another one quickly takes its place. The problem is that as demand for the drug is always present, there is always someone wanting to profit and willing to take the associated risks." And besides the obvious risk of prosecution to manufacturers and dealers the operation of a meth lab has larger implications. Meth labs are known for blowing up and causing fires. Clandestine labs also have the potential to contaminate drinking water supplies, soil and air, causing a great danger to nearby residences. Meth labs can cause health problems including respiratory illness, headaches, nausea, dizziness, skin irritation and burns to the eyes that can result in blindness or loss of vision. It is clear that the challenge to the Hinton RCMP in battling against meth is a great one. They have determined that anyone can buy meth in Hinton at the "street level," and the bulk of the trafficking to individuals is for the purpose of consumption. Adding to the struggle, meth dealers usually do not go to jail for their first conviction, but rather are punished only by a fine, and are quickly back in the community. Despite this seemingly endless fight Cst. Pillay feels that, "Hinton RCMP have a strong command of local criminal intelligence," but stresses that without any major changes to the RCMP's resources in Hinton, the problem will remain constant. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager