Responding to the Dangers of Methamphetamine Towards Informed Practices Amanda V. McCormicka, Darryl Plecasb, and Irwin M. Cohenc © December 2007 a Amanda McCormick is the Research Coordinator with the British Columbia Centre for Social Responsibility b Dr. Darryl Plecas holds the RCMP Research Chair at the University College of the Fraser Valley. He is also the Director of the Centre for Criminal Justice Research and a professor with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University-College of the Fraser Valley c Dr. Irwin M. Cohen is the Director for the British Columbia Centre for Social Responsibility and a professor with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University-College of the Fraser Valley Acknowledgment: This report was made possible through an initiative of the Public Safety Advisory Committee of the City of Chilliwack: Councillor Sharon Gaetz, Chair Councillor Chuck Stam, Co-Chair Mayor Clint Hames Dr. Darryl Plecas, University College of the Fraser Valley Amanda McCormick, University College of the Fraser Valley Dr. Irwin Cohen, University College of the Fraser Valley Superintendent Gary Brine, Chilliwack RCMP Inspector Keith Robinson, RCMP S/Sgt. Gerry Falk, Chilliwack RCMP Cst. Donna Collins, Drug Awareness Program, Chilliwack RCMP Mike Weightman, ICBC Kathy Funk, BIA Andrea Ormiston, Crown Counsel Ernie Charlton, Community Member Bruce Hutchinson, Community Member Dianne Garner, Community Member Sherry Mumford, Fraser Health Authority Taryn Dixon, Chilliwack School District Robert Carnegie, Director of Corporate Services, City of Chilliwack Fire Chief Rick Ryall, City of Chilliwack Assistant Fire Chief Ian Josephson, City of Chilliwack Garrett Schipper, Manager of Regulatory Enforcement, City of Chilliwack Karen Stanton, Manager of Development Services, City of Chilliwack The authors would like to express their thanks to Patrick Neal for his assistance in collecting the information necessary for the completion of this report. Executive Summary The intention of this report is to collect and unable to keep a job while binging on provide information on the use and methamphetamine. Properties are ruined by production of methamphetamine, and the methamphetamine use and production in best practices currently in use in many that, for example, homes that contain jurisdictions to respond to its use, production, methamphetamine labs are often irreparably and distribution. In addition, this report damaged or destroyed as the result of a provides direction to communities wishing to chemical explosion. In addition, chemical develop their own response to waste may be dumped down drains or in methamphetamine. This report was based on public areas causing damage to not only the an extensive search of library databases, house that contains the lab, but to the internet sites, and personal communications surrounding environment. This wider with experts in the field. exposure to harmful chemicals can contaminate members of the community. The results of this extensive search revealed Compounding the problem and dangers, that the use and production of methamphetamine is a relatively easy drug to methamphetamine was not equally produce so labs can essentially be located distributed among communities either in anywhere, including near, for example, Canada or internationally. Some communities elementary schools. have yet to be significantly affected by the sale, use, or production of methamphetamine, Because the production of methamphetamine while other jurisdictions have experienced is relatively easy, many cities across North widespread epidemic use and/or production. America have witnessed an increase in For others, methamphetamine is a growing clandestine methamphetamine labs and even concern. However, regardless of the extent of the development of superlabs. Rural parts of the methamphetamine problem, there is a the country are particularly at risk for the general consensus that methamphetamine is establishment of methamphetamine labs as a serious, addictive drug that has far-reaching the relative isolation offered in rural areas negative consequences for the user, their provides methamphetamine producers a social networks, and the community. degree of privacy and the ability to avoid raising the suspicion of neighbours. Across As with other drugs, the use and production British Columbia, methamphetamine labs of methamphetamine presents a wide range have been found in towns such as Chilliwack of individual, familial, and community and Abbotsford as a result of police challenges. For instance, there is a well- investigations or due to an explosion or fire. documented association between crime and methamphetamine use. To obtain money for Although education has increased the levels drugs, such as methamphetamine, users of public awareness about the effects of participate in various forms of criminal methamphetamine, people are still at risk of activity, such as breaking and entering, theft unknowingly consuming the drug. For of property, and identity theft. example, methamphetamine is often included Methamphetamine use is also associated with in ecstasy tablets; research indicates that increased homelessness, as the user may be methamphetamine is present in up to 70% of Page i ecstasy sold in the street. This practice can Lifetime rates of methamphetamine use result in people becoming addicted to range between 2% and 5% in North methamphetamine before they are even American. Recent research suggests that the aware that they are using it. An additional rate of first-time use of methamphetamine concern involves the new practice of has declined between 2004 and 2005. producing “candy meth”, or However, methamphetamine continues to methamphetamine that is flavoured with pose serious challenges to communities orange, strawberry, cola, or chocolate world-wide due to the drug’s potential to flavours to make it more appealing to rapidly create addicts, its ability to be children and youth. produced quickly and cheaply, its negative long-term negative consequences for chronic Methamphetamine use has the potential to users, and the accompanying violence, damage brain neurons and cells. The use of criminal activity, and environmental methamphetamine results in the brain being contamination that threatens community flooded with dopamine, otherwise known as members. the “pleasure chemical”. The release of dopamine and the subsequent state of The review of the literature revealed a euphoria that this produces results in many number of best practices currently operating users of methamphetamine becoming in several jurisdictions. These practices can addicted. While methamphetamine addiction be applied to cities everywhere. Based on a has traditionally been viewed as basically review of this existing literature, the authors untreatable, research indicates that some identified several areas in which recovery is possible. Successful treatment of recommendations can be made. methamphetamine is essential not only for the user themselves, but also for their family. 1. Awareness Campaigns Many methamphetamine users and/or o Target awareness and education producers have small children whose well- campaigns at those who may being, development, and even lives are accidentally come into contact with threatened by their close proximity to methamphetamine waste (i.e. methamphetamine. In response to the chemical dumps), such as children, psychological, emotional, and physical harms housing employees, sanitation employees, park employees, or suffered by these children, drug endangered construction workers; children’s units have been established in the o Target awareness campaigns at United States and, more recently, in Alberta, specific sub-groups who may come Canada. Unit members respond to a police into contact with methamphetamine takedown of a clandestine lab and attend to production or use, including: the needs of the children inside. Unit o Hotel/Motel/Gas station members are involved with these children for employees; o Retailers of precursor a lengthy period of time, ensuring that the chemicals; children’s best interests are kept in mind as o Retailers of anhydrous their parents are investigated and prosecuted ammonia; for methamphetamine production and/or o Pharmacists; child endangerment. o Farmers; o School educators; Page ii o School children; 2. Access to Materials o Parents; and o Health care workers (nurses, o The effectiveness of GloTell should be physicians, mental health); researched and, if found effective, its o Awareness and education campaigns use should be implemented in rural should include, but not be limited to, areas; the use of public forums, school o In rural areas where ammonia is presentations, speaker’s bureaus, commonly used, the use of locks or newsletters, posters, media tamper tags on ammonia tankers advertising, campaigns run in should be made mandatory; partnership with media organizations, o Given that retailers of precursor and/or conferences; chemicals, such as ephedrine and o Prior to implementing an awareness pseudoephedrine, can access valuable campaign, research should be information, such as the license conducted to determine what information of those buying large methods have been evaluated and amounts of chemicals, enforcement found to be most effective; officials should establish strong o To determine whether the campaign working relationships with retailers is effective in achieving its goals, of precursor chemicals. levels of awareness should be assessed