On your next trip to the local hardware or grocery store you may notice something that wasn't there last time you checked out.

Educational posters and pamphlets on Methamphetamine ( crystal meth ) will be highly visible at local retailers who sell materials that are used to produce the drug.

The Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Downtown Langley Merchants Association ( DLMA ) contributed $2,000 to the RCMP's Meth Watch Program in Langley.

"We surveyed our businesses. Crime and safety were major challenges identified," said Lynn Whitehouse, the chamber's executive director.

Last year the chamber and the DLMA joined forces to present a drugs and addiction in the workplace symposium to provide educational programs to business people.

Following the educational forum, the two groups agreed to use the proceeds from the event to pay for required print materials for the Meth Watch Program to commence in Langley.

Two thousand dollars went into printing of 500 posters, 1,500 shelf talkers and 1,500 brochures to educate employees, employers and customers about meth.

"They are educational materials that will help businesses identify the ingredients needed to make a meth lab," Whitehouse said. "What to watch for, how to deal with it and how to report it."

DLMA chair Craig Davies said his organization is taking proactive measures because its members feel a responsibility to the community.

"We feel [meth] has a strong effect on our businesses. We don't want to make it an easy thing to set up in our community," Davies said. "We have a responsibility associated to that respect."

Several common household items are used to produce crystal meth. Therefore retailers selling iodine, acetone, starter fluid, cough medicine, ephedrine, rubbing alcohol, coffee filters, or paint thinner might welcome a visit from the members of the Meth Watch Program.

The chamber and DLMA would like businesses to be knowledgeable about crystal meth.

"We want to curb potential meth labs and discourage anyone selling meth," Whitehouse said. "It will make an impact on the incidents of crime."

Langley RCMP Supt. Janice Armstrong told the Langley Advance that when she implemented Meth Watch in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge in February of 2005, the program went well.

"We did get a couple of calls and were able to track the information from there," Armstrong said. "We armed retailers and businesses with as much information as possible."

RCMP auxiliary officers and volunteers will begin visiting retailers starting in September.

Armstrong said they will also visit industrial area businesses that sell large quantities materials used to produce crystal meth.

The community need to get organized and get lists from the City and Township of businesses that are selling precursor ingredients to making crystal meth, Armstrong added.