Pubdate: Wed, 16 Feb 2005
Source: Weyburn Review (CN SN)
Copyright: 2005 Weyburn Review Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.weyburnreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2157
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

SASKHEALTH RELEASES NEW STRATEGY: CRYSTAL METH IS SERIOUS HEALTH AND SOCIAL 
ISSUE

The Saskatchewan Health department released a new strategy to deal 
specifically with the problem of crystal methamphetamine and other 
amphetamines on Thursday, describing it as a serious concern representing a 
"significant public health and social challenge."

The strategy comes months after Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA Brenda Bakken and a 
colleague began talking about the need for a specific strategy to deal with 
a growing problem of crystal meth use among young people.

Bakken said Friday she's glad the government is finally doing something, 
but she's concerned there is no indication in the strategy of new money for 
the program.

"If they try to do it within the existing services, you have to ask how 
much commitment they really have." she said.

Bakken said the SaskParty will continue to monitor the government's 
progress on a crystal meth strategy. "If they don't carry through, we will 
raise questions about it."

Health Minister John Nilson said Monday he expects an increase in the $23 
million drug addictions program in the upcoming provincial budget.

Each region will use its budget to deal with the problems in that area, he 
said. If use of one substance goes up in one area, more funds will be 
directed toward that, he said. "The strategy is a response to questions 
about what resources the department has to deal with crystal meth and 
putting it all in one place."

Nilson said he has known about the problem of crystal meth since he was 
justice minister, but it had not shown up in Saskatchewan at that point.

He said police and other officials were made aware of it but more recently, 
as questions were raised, he went to all the departments involved and put 
everything in one place. It's part of the broader strategy the government 
has to deal with addictions, he said.

Saskatchewan Health said the new initiatives are part of a comprehensive 
alcohol and drug strategy being developed that will include additional 
youth stabilization services to provide a safe place where youth may 
withdraw from alcohol and drugs and stabilize physically, emotionally and 
socially; more brief, detox services that provide safe places for 
short-term stays to stabilize from serious drug abuse; mobile treatment 
operations to meet the needs of northern communities; community outreach 
centres to meet the needs of street youth and families with children who 
have serious substance abuse issues; and a media campaign to raise public 
awareness.

A background report released with the strategy said of clients admitted to 
provincially-funded alcohol and drug treatment programs, the proportion 
reporting problematic stimulant use, including crystal meth, increased from 
7.9 per cent in 2001/02 to nine per cent in 2002/03 to 10 per cent in the 
first nine months of 2003/04.

Nine out of ten clients report problematic use with alcohol and/or drugs 
other than stimulants, said the report, adding that the Saskatoon 
Addictions Services said about eight per cent of youth inpatient clients 
and five per cent of adults report methamphetamine use.

Addiction Services also reports that less than five per cent of clients 
list it as their first drug of choice.

The report said methamphetamine clients typically have pronounced mental 
health issues that are often complex, like methamphetamine-induced 
psychosis. Services delivered in collaboration with psychiatric and 
inpatient mental health programs have been developed to provide more 
effective integrated treatment, it says.

The Health department said details such as location and service delivery 
will be determined through consultation with regional health authorities, 
service providers and community groups in the coming months.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom