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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom