Pubdate: Wed, 05 Oct 2005
Source: Langley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 BC Newspaper Group and New Media Development
Contact:  http://www.langleytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230
Author: Natasha Jones
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

PM QUESTIONED ABOUT METH

A Langley Township councillor who works with at-risk high school students 
has appealed directly to Prime Minister Paul Martin to help stem the 
scourge of crystal meth.

Steve Ferguson, a special education instructor with the Delta school 
district, challenged Martin at the end of the PM's speech at the annual 
Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver on Friday.

Martin's speech focused on the 2010 Olympics, gasoline taxes, new 
federal-provincial infrastructure programs and other initiatives relevant 
to municipalities.

When Martin had finished, Ferguson, the first to ask a question from the 
floor, told the PM that the problem of crystal meth is big and troubling, 
"and we need your help."

"Young people are having their lives taken away by a very serious drug that 
has no borders. Every municipality in this country can be affected by this 
terrible drug, Mr. Prime Minister, and we need your help," Ferguson told 
Martin.

Martin, according to Ferguson, replied that he was aware of concerns 
regarding the drug and that he had instructed Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh 
to work with the provincial ministries of health to get the necessary 
treatment and support in place to help communities combat the health and 
social repercussions of the drug.

Ferguson said later that he will monitor how the federal government acts, 
and will hold Martin's feet to the fire to ensure that he keeps his word.

Crystal meth "is a very cheap drug," he said. "You can get a small hit for 
$2. It's cheap, and it's out there and it's easy to get."

If government fail to act "we are going to fall further and further into 
the abyss of this drug," Ferguson added. Crystal meth is a powerful 
stimulant that has identical effects to cocaine. Where cocaine's effects 
last 30 minutes, crystal meth's last up to 18 hours.
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