Pubdate: Thu, 27 Oct 2005
Source: Carillon, The (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 The Carillon
Contact:  http://www.thecarillon.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2340
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

CRYSTAL METH MAIN TOPIC

Large Crowd At Forum Surprises Organizer MLA

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen admits to being astonished by the
overflow crowd in attendance at a Steinbach forum on the drug crystal
meth held Monday evening.

"I was astonished" to see the Steinbach Regional Secondary School
theatre filled to overflowing for the forum, Goertzen, justice critic
for the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party, commented Tuesday.

The crowd of about 350 was the largest attracted to a series of forums
on the drug he has held, Goertzen noted.

A meth forum in Brandon, which has a population of 40,000, attracted
300.

"I'm telling you that you have sent a message to drug dealers that
Steinbach is not open to drugs," Goertzen told his audience.

The interest in gathering information on crystal meth and
methamphetamine demonstrates a concern about the drug. It might also
suggest the drug is an issue in this area, Goertzen commented.

He does not, however, see that as a negative thing but as a positive,
Goertzen said, suggesting it demonstrates the desire of parents and
grandparents to get the information they need to protect young people
from using the drug.

Drug use is a relatively low profile issue for most of the people who
attended the meeting, Goertzen said. Their decision to attend,
however, indicates their desire to learn about something that
seriously affects younger people.

No heads in sand

"It's an indication people of this region are saying 'we're not
burying our heads in the sand,'" Goertzen said.

The Conservative MLA--who has been investigating the production and
sale of crystal meth since becoming his party's justice critic eight
months ago--told his audience that it is difficult to establish how
much of a problem Steinbach and area have with the drug.

Apparently 3,300 Manitobans tried the drug at least once last year, he
noted, adding he has been told Brandon and southeastern Manitoba are
the parts of the province where use of the drug is growing most rapidly.

Crystal meth is a growing threat because it is relatively cheap to
produce and buy, rapidly addicting and often sold to young people who
are unaware they are consuming a highly addictive drug, Goertzen said.

It is, for instance, commonly sold to first time users as a weight
loss drug, he pointed out. In fact, he added, one of effects of
crystal meth addiction is the loss of appetite, leading to weight loss.

Crystal meth is also often sold as a way of staying alert for exams.
It can also be soaked into marijuana cigarettes.

While there will always be a certain number of young people who refuse
to listen to warnings about the drug, Goertzen is convinced the
majority of young crystal meth addicts were tricked into first time
use.

Crystal meth "is more addictive than any other drug we see out
there."

Effects include a strong psychological addiction and the addiction is
very hard to break. Former addicts have been known to have flashback
episodes several years after discontinuing use of the drug.

Deadly drug

It also has a deadly effect on overall health, Goertzen said, noting
addicts commonly experience extreme weight loss. They also frequently
suffer from sores likely caused by obsessive fidgeting while under
influence of the drug. Addicts further go without sleep for lengthy
periods of time.

Crystal meth and methamphetamine (crystal meth is a more highly
refined version of methamphetamine) can be produced in household labs
using common household products.

The base product, however, is either pseudo-ephedrine or ephedrine,
Goertzen said, pointing out the drug cannot be manufactured without
that product.

For that reason he would like sales of single source pseudoephedrine
and ephedrine products, which include some cold medications, to become
restricted.

Jurisdictions that have restricted the sale of those products have
seen dramatic reductions in the production of methamphetamine--the
more cheaply and easily produced of the two drugs, Goertzen pointed
out.

Crystal meth is commonly produced in more professional labs frequently
operated by gangs. Restricting the availability of crystal meth would
likely require a crackdown on gang activity, he suggested.

His second recommendation for reducing the availability of the drugs,
then, is committing greater police resources to fighting gang activity.

Goertzen also said the province needs to release greater funding for
hospital beds for people seeking to break their addiction to meth.

Sympathy for addicts

Goertzen said he is sympathetic toward the addicts and only hopes they
can get the help they need to get off the drug.

He has no sympathy, however, for those are selling the
drugs.

Goertzen noted that law enforcement officials in neighboring Minnesota
have told him criminals in the U.S. are, in effect, trading crystal
meth for marijuana produced in Manitoba.

"We are sending marijuana their way and what's coming back is more
deadly."

Goertzen told The Carillon Tuesday he first began to investigate
methamphetamine and crystal meth eight months ago when he became the
party's justice critic.

His eyes were opened to the seriousness of the problem on a trip to
Minneapolis.

Law enforcement officials in that city told him they no longer had any
problems with either cocaine or heroine because crystal meth was too
cheap and too available.

He has also had conversation with a local family who told him their
two daughters had both become addicted to crystal meth after being
told it was a diet pill.

Investigation of the trade of drugs has "become much more than
political" to him, Goertzen said.

Nobody, regardless of party persuasion, wants to see young people
become addicted but the government has to dedicate resources and
hospital beds, he said.

At present, a meth addict may have a three-month wait for a hospital
bed but "to a lot of meth addicts three months is forever."

Following his address, Goertzen fielded questions from the
audience.

Several people expressed concern about the enforcement of drug
laws.

"I am concerned there is no deterrent (to drug dealers)," one person
said.

"We are losing our children."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin