Pubdate: Wed, 01 Jun 2005
Source: Daily News, The (CN NS)
Copyright: 2005 The Daily News
Contact:  http://www.hfxnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/179
Author: Andrea MacDonald
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

CRYSTAL METH WAVE SWEEPING ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAUSES CONCERN  	

Police in this province are bracing for a possible wave of crystal meth, a 
highly addictive drug you can make practically without even leaving your 
vehicle.

The drug has caused major problems among Western Canadian youth and is 
making its way across the country.

"Crystal meth and the impact it has on young people is what has me 
concerned," Deputy Chief Chris McNeil of Halifax Regional Police said 
during an editorial board meeting with The Daily News yesterday.

"Why it's re-emerged in Canada is new and improved methods to produce it. 
You can basically have a crystal-meth lab in the trunk of a car."

Crystal meth, or methamphetamine, can make users very aggressive and cause 
violent behaviour, according to a 2004 report on organized crime in Canada. 
It's easily manufactured, with chemicals that are highly toxic, corrosive 
and combustible.

Some experts have been quoted saying that 90 per cent of users will become 
addicted after trying the drug.

Copycat Use

An addictions counsellor contacted for this story didn't even want to speak 
publicly about crystal meth, for fear of sparking copycat use.

The counsellor said the same thing happened when other parts of Canada had 
problems with kids sniffing gas and glue, according to Caitlin Rochon of 
the provincial Office of Health Promotion.

"All of a sudden, like overnight, all these kids in this province were 
sniffing gas and glue because they go, 'Oh, God, look at that. That's an 
easy idea. All I need is a sock and some gas and I can get high,'" said Rochon.

"So they started doing it. And then when the attention went away, the 
problem went away."

Rochon said the counsellor hoped people here will realize that crystal meth 
is a dirty drug that can include such caustic ingredients as battery acid.

Still, law-enforcement agencies feel it's simply a matter of time.

Mounties in Nova Scotia believe the drug is already here in small 
quantities, though they haven't made any crystal-meth busts yet.

"It's available, but you'd have to know just exactly who to get it from. 
It's almost like a specialty order," said Sgt. Frank Skidmore, spokesman 
for the provincial RCMP.

Skidmore said Mounties are watching for crystal meth, but are no more 
concerned about it than any other illegal drug.

Marijuana and pot byproducts remain the biggest problem in this province, 
he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth