May 04, 2006
The province will invest $15,000 to train more than 600 front-line staff from police organizations and federal, provincial and municipal agencies across Manitoba on methamphetamine use and production, Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh and Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald announced today.
"Mixing the chemicals used to produce crystal meth can lead to explosions, fires, chemical burns and toxic fumes, and first responders shutting down a meth lab are often at risk," said Mackintosh. "We want to prepare front-line workers to detect lab locations, teach them about the hazards and give responders the information they need to protect safety when dealing with this deadly drug."
Manitoba is the first province to make this kind of training so widely available to such a broad range of first responders. First responders can take the interactive course from any Internet-connected computer. Web-based course delivery provides the flexibility of completing the training at work or at home, at a pace of the student’s choosing. The course includes information on the characteristics of crystal meth including symptoms and effects of use, and basic requirements and methods of production. In addition, it provides information on how to detect crystal meth labs and the associated hazards.
"We need to provide our front-line workers with the tools they need to address the growing problem of crystal meth as quickly as possible," said Oswald. "This innovative training will give police and others the information they need to help people addicted to this terrible drug, as well as ways to stay out of danger when shutting down labs producing crystal meth."
The course was developed by the Edmonton Police Service and
is offered by the Canadian Police Knowledge Network, a not-for-profit
corporation that provides
e-learning for police.
Other training initiatives in Manitoba include a minimum of four additional day-long crystal meth training sessions for child-welfare, addictions and mental-health service providers.
In 2005, Manitoba Healthy Living and Manitoba Justice established a task force to develop a comprehensive crystal meth strategy to restrict the supply and reduce the demand for this drug.
For more information on the Manitoba Meth Strategy, please visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/healthyliving/meth.html.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Manitoba Meth Strategy
The Manitoba Meth Strategy is a comprehensive plan to restrict the supply and reduce the demand for crystal meth.
The Manitoba Meth Strategy includes:
joining Saskatchewan in restricting the sale of 17 single-source pseudoephedrine products, the preferred ingredient in making meth, to make them available for sale only behind the counter in pharmacies and limiting quantities to 3,600 mg per purchase;
increasing investments in mental-health and addictions programs and providing enhanced training to front-line workers to deal with crystal meth, other addictions and mental-health issues;
establishing the Manitoba Meth Task Force comprising government, law enforcement and addictions agencies and led by Manitoba Healthy Living and Manitoba Justice;
developing a public education campaign to increase awareness of the dangers of meth use;
formalizing and enhancing a unified takedown protocol for meth labs;
a one-month Crimestoppers initiative in February that doubled cash rewards for tips on meth-related crimes;
a $260,000 crystal meth public awareness campaign including print, radio, outdoor transit and television ads, brochures, a website and community forums;
requiring theft of anhydrous ammonia to be reported; and
continuing strong partnerships with jurisdictions across Western Canada to develop a phased-in approach to restricting the sale of pseudoephedrine products.
The Manitoba Meth Strategy builds on other initiatives to combat meth and other drugs including:
providing funding for 54 new police-officer positions to be created throughout Manitoba;
developing Canada’s most comprehensive drug-impaired driving initiative;
continuing enhanced Manitoba Liquor Control Commission monitoring;
developing prevention and education programs provided by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba at 60 high schools; and
making a $6.7-million investment to enhance and increase mental-health and addictions programs and services.
In addition, the Manitoba government’s March 2006 budget announced a further $2 million in funding to combat crystal meth and other addictions.
The Youth Drug Stabilization (Support for Parents) Act would assist parents of children struggling with severe and persistent substance-abuse issues. The proposed legislation would allow a provincial court to issue an order under which a person under 18 can be taken to a designated facility for assessment by addiction specialists to determine if it is in the youth’s best interest to be detained for stabilization.
As well, the government has proposed changes to the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act that would provide additional tools to target problem properties where production of crystal meth is believed to be taking place.
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