March 6, 2008. Victoria, BC.- A recent Crystal Meth Society of BC (CMBC) school survey shows that one out of every five B.C. students knows of someone using crystal meth and four percent admit to using the drug.
These are some of the disturbing statistics presented by CMBC Executive Director Mark
McLaughlin at an address today to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Standing
Committee on Community Safety and Crime Prevention.
The escalation of gangland warfare fuelled by the drug trade in B.C. was voiced as a
concern by members of the Standing Committee.
"Youth awareness and prevention programs reduce crime in our communities," confirmed
Randy Goulden, Chair of FCM's Standing Committee on Community Safety and Crime
Prevention. "These survey results demonstrate the need for continued resources to direct youth
away from drugs and gangs."
“More effort is needed on the prevention side to stop youth from becoming involved in
drugs,” said McLaughlin. “This is, without a doubt, part of the solution to combating drugs and
gangs in B.C. The survey results show just how easy it is to get drugs like crystal meth and
ecstasy and an alarming lack of knowledge about how easy it is to slip into using them.”
Of the 2715 students surveyed over 40 per cent showed a lack of understanding about
how drug dealers get you hooked.
The survey showed that 47 per cent of students know someone using the street drug
ecstasy and over 40 per cent don’t realize that crystal meth is sometimes laced into other street
drugs like ecstasy , cocaine, and even marijuana.
Meth, which is nearly odourless, is several times more addictive than cocaine.
“By surveying the students at each educational session, valuable information was
collected. From school to school the statistics consistently showed similar results,” said
McLaughlin.
The 12 month effort surveyed students in grades six to 12 in 2008 as part of the CMBC
Meth info Show. Schools surveyed ranged from Vancouver Island to the Lower Mainland to as
far north as Burns Lake. Other results from the student survey include:
* 94 per cent would not use crystal meth after seeing the Meth Info Show.
* 75 per cent don’t know of any organizations in their community that addresses the
problem of crystal meth.
* 96 per cent believe that other people should see the Meth Info Show.
* 22 percent know of someone using crystal meth.
* 8 per cent have been offered crystal meth.
* 37 per cent say that crystal meth is easily accessible.
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Media Contact: Mark McLaughlin 250-744-4111