FACTSHEET
2006EDU0110-001274 Oct. 23, 2006	Ministry of Education Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
FACTS ON CRYSTAL METH

• Crystal meth, or methamphetamine, is a highly addictive amphetamine and has effects similar to those of cocaine. It is usually a white, odourless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that dissolves easily in water or alcohol.

 

• It is an synthetic (manmade) drug, and can be manufactured locally using ephedrine or pseudo-ephedrine (the active ingredient in cold medications) and other chemicals, including acetone, drain cleaner, lithium, iodine, paint thinner, kerosene, red phosphorous and muriatic acid.

 

• Brain imaging studies have found that continued use creates damage to the brain that is similar to that caused by strokes or Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the drug can produce psychotic symptoms, such as paranoia and delusions, in a user that persist for months or years after a person has stopped using the drug.

 

• Studies show that 20 per cent of people who use meth become dependent.

 

• In 2004, B.C. became the first jurisdiction in Canada to announce an integrated crystal meth strategy. In November 2004, B.C. hosted the first western Canadian summit on meth use, bringing together doctors, counsellors, pharmacists, police, lawyers and government.

 

• As part of this strategy, the Province created the Crystal Meth Secretariat within the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to implement the initiative cross-government and develop a broader meth strategy – including a timetable for action with multi-year spending requirements.

 

• At the UBCM convention in 2005, Premier Campbell committed $7 million for new initiatives to fight crystal meth use, including:
• $1 million for school-based initiatives.
• $2 million for a public education campaign.
• $2 million to help communities and First Nations by providing $10,000 seed grants to assist in their local response to the problem of crystal meth.
• $2 million for targeted treatment programs.
• Regional crystal meth informational forums.

 

• The Solicitor General’s office hosted five regional forums to inform communities about the dangers of crystal meth, and stopping its spread. These forums took place between January and April 2006 in: Richmond, Courtenay, Vancouver, Kamloops and Prince George.

 

-30-

Media contact:	Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Education 250 356-5963
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.