Pubdate: Wed, 10 Aug 2005
Source: Saanich News (CN BC)
Contact:  http://www.saanichnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1209
Author: Cst. John Price
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH WATCH

Fighting the spread of crystal meth takes a multi-dimensional approach. 
Educating the public about this drug is an important step; but only one 
step. We know that another important step in controlling the spread of 
crystal meth is in controlling the availability of the drug.

Methamphetamine (meth) can be produced from available household materials 
making it inexpensive and readily accessible on the street. Many people 
exploring drugs choose meth because of this fact. If we make producing 
crystal meth more difficult, it will become more expensive, less available, 
and fewer people will be poisoned by it.

This is where the meth Watch Program comes in.

The Saanich Police Crime Prevention Section will be working with local 
businesses to implement the Meth Watch Program. Police will approach local 
businesses this summer in an effort to curtail the sale of the precursor 
chemicals that may be used to produce crystal meth. We will keep you posted 
on the progress in Saanich.

Meth is dangerous for more that just the users.

When these precursors are used for legitimate purposes they are relatively 
benign but in combination these agents are highly toxic and flammable. This 
creates a significant public safety issue and is a particular concern for 
police and fire personnel who are most likely to stumble onto a lab 
producing meth. Significant education and safety planning is going into 
preparing emergency workers to deal with meth labs. If you come across 
anything you think may be a meth lab, leave the area and call police.

Meth labs can be set up in a home, the back of a car or in any sheltered 
secluded place. Your first clue to the existence of a lab may be an 
unusually large quantity of discarded packaging that has come from the 
precursors; such as antifreeze containers, lantern fuel cans, drain 
cleaner, duct tape and red chemically stained coffee filters. You may also 
notice unusual amounts of clear glass containers being brought into the 
area of the lab. These are good indicators that there is a meth lab in the 
area. Contact the police and do not look for the lab yourself.

Meth labs may also produce unusual, strong odors (like cat urine, ether, 
ammonia, acetone or other chemicals). Residences housing labs may have 
windows blacked out. Often renters using a property for a lab will only pay 
their landlords in cash. (Most drug dealers trade exclusively in cash.) You 
may also notice a lot of traffic - people coming and going at unusual 
times. There may be little traffic during the day, but at night the 
activity increases dramatically.

The main thing to remember is if you suspect meth is being produced 
anywhere, do not investigate yourself. Explosions and toxic chemical 
exposure can occur very easily. Accidents in meth Labs can cause severe 
lung damage, serious burns and in many cases can be deadly.
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MAP posted-by: Beth