Pubdate: Sun, 27 Feb 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/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) METH MENACE ROUSES B.C. TO ACTION RESPONSE: Province article spurs people to reveal personal toll drug has taken Community groups and individuals are increasingly concerned about the abuse of crystal meth in B.C. As The Province disclosed last Sunday, coroner's figures show that in 2004, 33 B.C. residents died with the drug in their system -- compared to just 15 in 2003. That revelation triggered a flood of letters and e-mails to the newspaper, many containing harrowing tales of families torn apart and lives destroyed by the drug. You can read a selection of those letters in today's paper on the Opinion page, A23. Crystal meth -- which in different form used to be called speed -- can cause permanent brain damage and is highly addictive. Easily concocted in homemade laboratories from readily available ingredients, crystal meth is cheap to make and cheap to buy. Authorities say raising public awareness is key to slowing meth's spread and preventing more young people from becoming addicted. Letters from readers also called for recognition of the efforts being made by community organizations and local officials to stem the drug's tide. Provincewide, intensive lobbying of government is being done and grassroots efforts are under way, designed to tackle the issue of meth addiction head on. One inspiring story is told on the opposite page today. It's about how the community of Maple Ridge recognized a major methamphetamine problem in its midst and got together to establish a task force to clean up the mess. (For information about that community's efforts, check out http://beta.dcom.ca.) In another example, on Vancouver Island, a group of young actors has teamed up to fight crystal-meth abuse among young teens in an interactive, provocative play. Directed by Malaspina contract instructor Steven Noble, Crystal Diagnosis details one year in the life of a 15-year-old who falls into the crystal meth lifestyle. The play premiered in November in Duncan and is heading on the road for a series of shows from Parksville to Victoria in coming weeks. "It's getting a lot of notice. The schools are starting to take notice of it," Noble said. Police are also taking note. The RCMP has asked that the play be presented to Grade 7, 8 and 9 students taking drug-resistance education courses. If you know of an initiative in your community against crystal meth and would like to share it with Province readers, send the information by fax to 604-605-2223 or e-mail to Where to Get Help Kaiser Foundation www.kaiserfoundation.ca B.C. Partners for Mental Health www.heretohelp.ca Prevention Source B.C. www.preventionsource.bc.ca Early Psychosis Intervention www.psychosissucks.ca Crystal Meth Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous www.bcrscna.bc.ca/meetings/listings Covenant House www.covenanthousebc.org Crystal Recovery www.crystalrecovery.com Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse www.ccsa.ca Watari Youth Day Treatment Program 604-438-3755 Family Services of Greater Vancouver 604-872-4349 Narconon Detox Centre 1-866-266-6616 Methamphetamine Response Committee 604-736-2033 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom