Pubdate: Thu, 20 Oct 2005
Source: Powell River Peak (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Peak Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.prpeak.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/734
Author: Ted Durnin
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

$30,000 AVAILABLE FOR CRYSTAL METH PROGRAMS

Local governments and first nations can apply for part of $2 million
for the province

Mayor Stewart Alsgard and municipal councillors want to fight crystal
meth before it gets to Powell River.

Alsgard hosted a mental health and substance abuse meeting on October
5, a follow up to a similar meeting on August 26.

The mayor and some municipal councillors were just back from a UBCM
(Union of British Columbia Municipalities) convention in Vancouver,
where crystal meth and how to combat it were on the agenda.

Alsgard said UBCM had secured $2 million for new initiatives in
treatment and prevention of crystal meth use. A $10,000 seed money
grant is available to every community in the province, including first
nations that want to participate. The mayor said that means there is a
potential for $30,000 in this area, and called on those at the table
to get past jurisdictional issues and get involved. He invited all
present to joint a Mayor's Select Committee, a legal entity formed of
more than just council, to get the money in the bank and get started.

Margaret Antolovich, Powell River Community Health manager for public
health and prevention, asked the specific purpose of the select committee.

"The committee is the mechanism by which we tap the funds," responded
Alsgard. "What we do after that will grow from there."

School District 47 chairwoman Pauline Galinski pointed out that
crystal meth is not yet a problem in Powell River, and asked if the
select committee would look at drug use in general.

Councillor David Gabelhouse said the message at UBCM was: Crystal meth
will come to your community.

Powell River RCMP Sergeant Andy Brinton said cocaine is probably the
major issue in Powell River right now. "We haven't had any real
seizures of crystal meth," said Brinton. "There is talk that cocaine
is being laced with crystal meth."

Brinton said that the people involved and the problems are the same.
"The drug problem is limited to a core group of about 25 out there."

Brinton said police are often asked why they don't do something about
a known drug house in a neighbourhood.

"Resourcing is an issue," he said. "We're going to try the task force
approach." Police plan to take members out of the uniform group to
supplement plain-clothes members soon, Brinton added.

Powell River RCMP Constable Carl McIntosh said Townsite residents
recently went door to door delivering a form called "Reporting a
Suspected Drug House," available from police. "Within two days he [the
drug dealer] was out of their neighbourhood."

McIntosh said this kind of low-cost action can be effective.

Last year, council passed a bylaw that requires property owners to pay
for costs associated with dismantling illegal drug operations and
bringing a house back to a safe condition, seen as a deterrent to
manufacturing, sale or bartering of drugs in residential homes.

As well, UBCM is lobbying the provincial government to amend laws so
that BC Hydro can provide a list of residences with either very high
consumption or no consumption of power, both characteristic of grow-ops.

During UBCM, Councillor Myrna Leishman attended a session with
minister of education Shirley Bond where they discussed School
District 47's new drug policy. Leishman said there needs to be
treatment after strike three. "We have no treatment centres. We have
to find a place for students to get the treatments they require."

Hugh Prichard of Powell River's Youth Advisory Council asked why the
mayor's mental health and substance abuse meetings were being held
during school hours, and saying youth need to be involved.

"Youth have the answers," said Prichard.

Substance abuse committee targets action plan

City councillors approved the establishment of a select committee on
substance abuse at the October 11 council meeting.

Mayor Stewart Alsgard is the chairman of the committee and councillors
Brenda DeGraag, David Gabelhouse, Myrna Leishman, Jeff Mah, Russell
Storry and Sandi Tremblay are members, as well as Lyn Adamson,
Margaret Antolovich, Wendy Barker, Susan Biagi, Laurette Bloomquist,
RCMP Sergeant Andy Brinton, Marilyn Carey, Dean Gerhart, Maggie
Hathaway, Nora Koros, Gloria Lockstead, RCMP Constable Carl McIntosh,
Hugh Prichard and Jay Yule.

The committee originated as a result of Alsgard initiating two
meetings about substance abuse in Powell River. The committee's
mandate is to go forward with some action, explained DeGraag.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake