More money for crystal meth fight (Vancouver, BC)

CBC News
The provincial government has announced it's spending an additional $8 million a year for crystal meth treatment programs and detox beds.

Health Minister George Abbott says the money will be added to the budgets of B.C.'s six health authorities:

The government is stepping up its efforts
to deal with the effects of crystal meth

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority receives $2,183,915;

The Fraser Health Authority receives $1,964,558;

The Vancouver Island Health Authority receives $1,539,324;

The Interior Health Authority receives $1,261,421;

The Northern Health Authority receives $426,662;

And the Provincial Health Services Authority receives $624,120.

Vancouver police Deputy Chief Bob Rich welcomes the move, saying he sees the impact of crystal meth on the young addicts.

"It is awful. It will make your blood chill to watch what this person is going through. Crystal meth is a different drug than anything we've ever seen before, and it is awful. It is killing our children."

Addictions counsellor David McAleese says he was 19 when he started using crystal meth, and he fought his addiction for three years.

McAleese has been clean for two years. But he says when he lived on the street, crystal meth was an attractive drug to try.

"It helps a lot, because it makes it so you don't have to eat, and it makes it so you don't have to sleep. And it makes it so you're just aren't so depressed with being on the street and sleeping outside all the time."

http://www.cbc.ca/bc/story/bc_crystal-meth20060316.html