Pubdate: Wed, 12 Oct 2005
Source: Agassiz Harrison Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Agassiz Observer
Contact:  http://www.agassizharrisonobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1344
Author: James Baxter

EDUCATION KEY TO STOPPING METH'S SPREAD

There's a tinge of exasperation in Darcy Striker's voice, like a prize
fighter whose been beaten one too many times and has grown tired of
talking about it. There's also frustration and anger, both of which
emerge as he speaks.

There are a lot of drugs being bought and sold on the streets of his
community, he explains. It passes back and forth, often traded between
kids young enough to be his own children. He knows about it because he
sees it all the time right outside the downtown Agassiz business he
manages. He sees it and it makes him mad. And exasperated.

"I wish I had an answer, but I don't," Striker offers.

According to Striker, the Aberdeen building at the east end of Pioneer
Park is a popular hang out for young people that inevitably draws the
dealers. They often sneak behind the building away from front street
traffic to sell marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine from their
pockets. He says the buyers appear to range from 13 to 17 years-old;
the dealers are a little older.

"During the school year there's always a pile of kids out front,"
explains Striker, who also sits on Kent council. "You can tell the
ones that are doing drugs. There's a park bench on the sidewalk right
beside our store, in between our store [Lordco] and the Pharmasave. A
lot of kids sit there and that is where they do their dealing."

Striker recalls being shown a picture by police of what they pulled
off one young kid. It was a small suitcase stuffed with baggies of
crack cocaine, pot and crystal meth with a street value of about
$5,000. Young teens are often recruited by older dealers to sell their
junk because the kids don't face the stiffer legal consequences that
adults would if they're busted, he explains. That creates a sense of
fearlessness in regard to the police and courts.

"As council, we've had meetings with residents in different
neighbourhoods of town and they know whose selling it, we know whose
selling it, the people on the street know whose selling it, the police
know whose selling it, " he says. "There's usually three or four
people that remain the same; they're the constants. But what do we do
. when they have no fear of retribution?"

Striker says the most popular drug still appears to be marijuana,
however he is concerned about the rising spectre of crystal
methamphetamine, the cheap-as-nails concoction of household and garage
chemicals that's already taken root in communities throughout the
Fraser Valley.

"It's still not as big as crack cocaine and marijuana but it's cheap,
the cost of a kid's lunch money," he explained. "It's the up and
coming drug."

Agassiz RCMP Cst. Shane Holmquist acknowledges that proliferation of
crystal meth is a big worry for law enforcement. Local police have
already facilitated public sessions to outline the drug's dangers to
parents and other concerned citizens. The largest turnout was just 20
people.

The concern is crystal meth may eventually become the drug of choice
because of how easily it can be made, its portability and its long
lasting effects. Its high lingers anywhere from eight to 24 hours,
whereas with cocaine you are looking at the effects only lasting 20
minutes, Holmquist said. About one-tenth of a gram does the trick, and
it only costs between five to ten dollars.

"Some of the stats I've reviewed said that 34 per cent of high school
kids have used marijuana and we're looking at two per cent using
crystal meth," he said. "There is going to be a serious problem if
those numbers reverse."

Ottawa recently upgraded crystal meth to a schedule one drug which
places it alongside heroine and crack cocaine. It also lifts the
maximum sentence for trafficking the drug from 10 years to life
imprisonment.

Holmquist said there have only been a small number of crystal meth
cases reported in Agassiz, and that public awareness regarding the
ravag ing effects it has on the human body is one strategy being used
to try to keep it that way.

"The misconception about crystal meth is people think they can control
it, but it is roughly 90 per cent more addictive than cocaine," he
said. "Recipes are available on the internet and people try to make it
themselves, which also leads to explosions because it creates a highly
flammable gas as a by-product."

As was explained in last week's Observer, the veritable hardware store
of ingredients is cringe-inducing: drain cleaner, cold medicine,
iodine, red phosphorous, ether, paint thinner and even lithium from
batteries are among the 15 or so items mixed into this toxic soup. The
trouble is, separately they are all legal to buy and easy to find.

Striker admits, ironically, his store sells a number of these common
shelf items.

"There's no law that says you can't buy it, but we have talked about
shutting some of these kids down," he said, noting that methyl
hydrate, commonly used as a gasoline additive to get drivers through
aircare, is a popular soaking solution for marijuana buds and might
even be finding its way into the crystal meth stew. "I don't know what
kind of a person came up with this recipe and tried it himself. There
is a lot of auto care products in this stuff, but how many people
would buy a can of fuel injector cleaner and snort it?"

Striker has often raised the drug issue at council meetings, and has
regularly attended crystal meth forums both here and elsewhere. Being
the parent of four young children has only hardened his resolve to
proactively combat the drug. He praises programs like D.A.R.E., an
elementary school course taught by police officers that effectively
hammers home the anti-substance message.

"My oldest is 11 and in grade six so she'll be going to the high
school next year," Striker said. "It's scary. All you can do is teach
them. D.A.R.E. had a real affect on her, but you know it's the peer
pressure thing when you get to school."

Holmquist said police are doing the best job they can with resources
they have. A few dealers have been identified and are being watched.
Police are "definitely" aware of where the drug activity in Agassiz is
occurring, he said.

"We have people in the community that are concerned citizens we keep
in touch with on a regular basis and we attempt to make extra patrols
in those areas.," he said. " The thing that is really helpful to us
when we get calls is as much information as possible ... something we
can follow up on and track down.

"My biggest thing is to encourage people to call the detachment when
they see these things."

Striker said a lot of residents have become frustrated by what they
perceive as a too little police presence, particularly at night, and
often don't even bother to report incidents because past responses
have been too slow and ineffective. But Striker urges everyone to call
police when they see drug deals going down, because everything is
electronically recorded and its important the RCMP knows when incident
rates are increasing so manpower can be shifted from Chilliwack
accordingly.

"The people of Agassiz have to start making noise," he said. "People
have to take the blinders off. This community is small ... a nice
sleepy hollow so all those [dealers] are looking across the Fraser
saying it's a nice quiet place [and] they're selling their stuff here." 
- ---
MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)