Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jan 2016
Source: Guelph Mercury (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.guelphmercury.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1418
Page: A6

GUELPH'S CRYSTAL METH PROBLEM NEEDS MORE ATTENTION

Guelph has a huge problem with crystal meth abuse. This community is
more given to focusing on other significant issues such as the rate of
local property taxation, whether to fund a replacement of the main
library branch and managing frosh week rowdyism from early September
bar goers.

But the community has insignificantly grappled with how direly crystal
meth abuse is impacting it. For police or folks who attend locally
courts with any frequency this issue is no surprise. Meth-related
crime is soaring in the community. In 2013 alone, there were 433
occurrences meth possession charges laid. That was up almost eight per
cent from the previous year.

The Guelph Police have linked crystal meth trafficking and abuse to
robberies, home invasions, weapons use, weapons seizures and copious
violent acts in the past year. The police service recently engaged in
a special operation called Project Ice that targeted crime associated
with the drug and it saw almost 20 locals charged - and those
convicted getting terms reaching up into prison sentences.

Last year, the province announced funding for a $100,000 pilot program
to have an addictions worker in bail court to try to help people
charged in meth-related matters to give up their use of the drug. The
program is also to help better train other front-line workers who
encounter and support these addicts. Further, it was to finance a
'meth watch' program that was directed to informing businesses that
might be selling large volumes of components needed to make this
street drug.

Yet, in spite of all this, many Guelph leaders are rather blind to the
reality of this scourge or they're too silent about how to address
it.

It's not solely a police problem. As Guelph Police Chief Jeff DeRuyter
has said publicly of this challenge it is not going to be something
the community "arrests its way out of."

It's a live issue elsewhere as well. But it might receive more
attention where there is less employment, affluence and soft political
issues to fret over.

But Guelph must confront this. There should be assiduous attention
paid to such things as meth-related crime numbers noted in the next
annual report of the Guelph Police and to whatever reporting is
generated surrounding the $100,000 pilot announced last September.

This is not a pleasant subject to consider. But failing to do so will
yield far more unpleasant consequences for Guelph.
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MAP posted-by: Matt