Pubdate: Wed, 09 Nov 2005
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Matthew Ramsey
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

NORTH VAN SETS METH TASK FORCE

Buoyed by the success of other B.C. communities, North Vancouver is to
launch a crystal meth task force to combat the spread of the drug.

The North Shore task force of more than 50 individuals from municipal,
community and police groups will kick off with a 90-day awareness
campaign starting in January. Details of the campaign will be
announced today.

Co-ordinator Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong of the North Vancouver RCMP said
the task force's primary focus will be on youth. Young people are
heavily involved in the task force already, she noted, and they will
be key to the public outreach.

Armstrong said North Shore residents will see kiosks in area malls and
pamphlets being handed out, as well as community forums. The task
force will also pressure government to provide additional treatment
facilities for young people addicted to the drug .

"We'd like to see more youth treatment beds and more youth detox," she
said, adding that police are seeing a growing number of young people
arrested for crimes while under the influence of meth and have heard
stories of young girls taking the drug to lose weight.

Community-led task forces have formed in Maple Ridge, Victoria,
Nanaimo, Surrey and Oceanside.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin