Pubdate: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 Source: New West News Leader (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 New West News Leader Contact: http://www.newwestnewsleader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1297 Author: Michael Mcquillan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) NEW WEST TO STRIKE METH TASK FORCE IN NEW YEAR One of the first goals of a New Westminster meth task force will be to find out the scope of the problem. City council supported a motion by Coun. Lorrie Williams to set up the task force. It should include various partners from the community, she said. Meth is a scourge on the city, she said, and the only way to deal with it is to get everyone involved. Williams told the NewsLeader the task force should model itself after a similar one created in Maple Ridge more than a year ago. Crystal methamphetamine is a street drugs with potentially greater social implications than crack cocaine and heroin. It is readily available because it can be made with a variety of household items and chemicals that are easily available. Meth is a synthetic drug that has does long-term damages the nervous system. Its use can cause dependence and addiction, psychosis, stroke, dangerously high body temperature and cardiac arrhythmia. Withdrawal often results in severe depression and paranoia. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake