Pubdate: Fri, 05 Mar 2004
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Laura Czekaj
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

SPEED DEMONS RISE UP

Police Wage War On Illegal Methamphetamine Operations

AS MARIJUANA grow operations proliferate across the country, police are 
bracing for the next wave of illegal drug operations -- methamphetamine 
labs. "I would say in the next two to three years here in Ontario, it's 
going to almost be at an epidemic proportion," said clandestine lab expert 
David Clarke, president of Canadian Emergency Planning Consultants Inc. in 
Barrie.

The illegal and highly addictive drug has grown rapidly in popularity in 
the U.S., resulting in drug labs popping up like weeds across the country 
to meet the demand. The illegal labs already have a foothold in Western 
Canada and many law enforcement officials believe they are swiftly heading 
east.

"There has been a gradual increase over the last few years of meth labs 
right across Canada," said Sgt. Doug Culver, the RCMP's national 
co-ordinator for synthetic drug operations.

In 1999, the RCMP reported 14 meth labs across Canada. In 2003, that number 
jumped to 26. In the past 18 months, police have discovered 15 labs in 
southwestern Ontario, said Det. Sgt. Paul Henry, from the OPP drug 
enforcement section.

"That seems to be a hotbed for them right now," he said. "It's definitely a 
problem ... it seems to be creeping this way (Ottawa)."

In January 2003, police raided a clandestine east-end lab on Canotek Rd. 
and seized enough chemicals to produce an estimated $20 million worth of 
ecstasy pills.

FLASH FIRES

Drug labs house toxic and volatile chemicals, which have been known to 
explode or cause flash fires.

The dangerous nature of meth labs was highlighted in southwestern Ontario 
in January 2003, when one blew up at a Milverton home, seriously injuring a 
father and son. The two were later charged.

These labs can cook up a smorgasbord of illicit street drugs, such as 
methamphetamine, ecstasy and the date-rape drug GHB.

Many of the ingredients used to cooking meth are legal and found in most homes.

But for the "cooks" who mix up these chemicals, the potential profits far 
outweigh the risk. For an investment of a couple of hundred dollars, they 
can reap thousands in profits.

"When we start talking about drugs, we are looking basically at a crime of 
greed," said Culver. "These people are not clandestine chemists because 
they really don't know what they are doing."

Often they are following a recipe they got from someone else or found on 
the Internet.

Organized crime has been linked to the majority of marijuana grow 
operations across Canada. But the recent rash of meth labs in the Perth 
County area was believed to be the work of a cook from the U.S. who taught 
a group of paying students how to make the drugs based on his method, said 
Clarke.

It is estimated that every cook will teach four to six people a year how to 
produce the drugs. The result is a significant jump in the number of 
clandestine labs, many run by people with very little knowledge about the 
corrosive and explosive nature of the chemicals involved.

The cooking process takes about three hours and can be done almost anywhere 
- -- an apartment, a house, a motel room.

Synthetic drug labs contain dangerous chemicals which leave contamination 
behind even after the drug lab is dismantled and relocated. This puts the 
next residents at risk, especially children.

"There is a vast amount of contamination that occurs during the cooking 
process of making methamphetamine," said Culver. "There are vapours that 
seep into the walls and the carpets."

Meth is a highly addictive stimulant, which can be taken orally, sniffed as 
a powder or injected. When it is converted into crystals, it can be smoked, 
which produces a more powerful effect.

Meth users might experience feelings of pleasure and a rush of sensation.

Largely known as a club drug, it goes by the street names of speed, meth, 
crystal, glass, chalk, or ice. But whatever the name, the drug is extremely 
dangerous and in some cases can be fatal even after a single dose. 
Side-effects can include damage to brain-cell endings, insomnia, anorexia 
or paranoia.

"There have been overdoses on meth and lots of other club drugs because the 
user is not sure what they are getting or in what dose they are getting," 
said Culver.

Because there are no set standards for these drugs, there is no telling 
what's actually in them, said Richard Viau, director of the drug analysis 
service for Health Canada.

"You don't know the concentration of the drug, you don't know the 
strength," he said. "You may have tried something like it in the past and 
not had any problems. But you don't know the next time you try it what it 
is that you're trying."

Often the dealer doesn't even know what he is selling.

Of the exhibits seized by police nationwide and submitted to Health Canada 
for analysis, marijuana is the most common, followed by cocaine.

CONTROL CHEMICALS

"What we have been seeing the last couple of years is that meth is, in many 
regions in the country, moving into third place," said Viau.

As U.S. law enforcement struggles to keep up with the spread of illegal 
labs, their Canadian counterparts are taking steps to stem the expected 
overflow.

In January 2003, Health Canada established regulations that will help to 
monitor and control access to several chemicals used in the production of 
illicit drugs.

"I think we are just starting to see the impact these controls are having," 
said Culver.

Some facts about methamphetamine:

- - Meth is a synthetic amphetamine stimulant commonly abused by intravenous 
injection for the rapid, intense euphoria of the "rush" or "flash" effect.

- - Meth has a high potential for abuse and dependence. It is illegally 
produced and sold in pill form, capsules, powder and chunks.

- - Clandestine labs known as "mom and pop" labs are found in rural, city and 
suburban residences and even vehicles.

- - Some of the ingredients used to make meth include over-the-counter cold 
and asthma medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, red 
phosphorous, hydrochloric acid, drain cleaner, battery acid, lye, lantern 
fuel and antifreeze.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom