Pubdate: Thu, 02 Nov 2006
Source: Outlook, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Outlook
Contact:  http://www.northshoreoutlook.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1433
Author: Jeff Nagel

GET TOUGH ON METH LAB OPERATORS, CITIES SAY

Tougher sentencing of crystal meth lab operators and more intrusive 
measures to catch them when they buy precursor chemicals are urgently 
needed, delegates to the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention 
heard last Wednesday.

Terrace Coun. Rich McDaniel said a meth lab was busted within 300 
metres of both Terrace city hall and the RCMP detachment but its 
operators were sentenced this month to probation only.

"They didn't even get a damn fine," he told a crystal meth strategies 
forum. "There's no deterrent."

McDaniel also pressed for even earlier efforts to bring anti-drug 
messaging to elementary school children.

"Grade 4 is the time to reach them," he said, adding waiting until 
Grade 6 is too late.

Sparwood Mayor David Wilks said B.C. should follow the lead of 
Montana, which requires all hardware stores to require identification 
and collect names of customers who buy meth components.

A registration system for consumers would go far beyond the existing 
Meth Watch program used in some B.C. cities in which retailers 
voluntarily watch for large-scale buying of precursors and alert 
police when they see it.

The meth session came on the heels of an announcement by the province 
that another $3 million will be spent on school-focused programs to 
battle meth. A year earlier Victoria unveiled a $7 million plan to 
combat meth addiction.

But Mark McLaughlin, one of the organizers of Victoria's crystal meth 
task force, said the province hasn't yet rolled out its promised 
programs in the schools.

"September has come and gone and we have yet to see it," he said. 
"Every day that goes by without kids getting this important 
information is another day that a child runs the risk of being 
exposed to crystal meth."

McLaughlin said the province has made a start but must do more.

View Royal Coun. Andrew Britton, a paramedic, put much of the meth 
abuse epidemic at the feet of the province, saying it can be traced 
to Victoria's track record on handling the mentally ill, and in 
cutting back health care, homeless shelters and low-cost housing.

Some delegates urged cabinet ministers to consider measures to pull 
young addicts off the street for a mandatory five days of detox.

But Attorney-General Wally Oppal said that would likely violate 
constitutional protections.

Public safety minister John Les said crystal meth addicts must want 
to get off the drug and evidence shows forced treatment doesn't work.

He also rejected suggestions that cities need more power to crack 
down on drug houses. He said plenty of tools exist that towns may not 
adequately use, such as vigorous enforcement of unsightly premises 
bylaws if there are upkeep problems.
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