HIGHLY ADDICTIVE DRUG A LIFE SENTENCE

The majority of crimes are drug related, a crowd of about 50 people who
attended a meeting in Benalto were told.

"About 85 per cent of all crimes are drug related," said Cpl. Duncan
Babchuk from the Sylvan Lake RCMP, who spoke at the Benalto Rural Crime
Watch Society meeting Thursday.

Babchuk's presentation focused on crystal methamphetamine, a highly
addictive drug which is becoming increasingly popular. The drug is
concocted into a toxic cocktail using household cleaners, paint thinner,
ammonia, lithium from batteries and certain cold medications. It can be
ingested in two forms -- crystal or 'ice' form, and powder form -- and is
usually smoked. It acts quickly and destroys the pleasure centres of the
brain, so that with long-term use, the only thing that provides the user a
sense of relief is the drug itself. Prolonged use also causes skin lesions
and teeth to fall out.

"The very first time you try it you're hooked," he said. "It has about four
times the effect of cocaine and keeps people high for a longer period of
time. And the first time you smoke it, it causes permanent brain damage.
It's a life sentence if I ever saw one."

Babchuk warned the farmers in attendance that anyone who is stealing from
their property to buy drugs, will take anything that isn't nailed down. He
added drug users, desperate to get money for a fix, can be violent.

While Babchuk stressed the drug problem in this area is no better or worse
than anywhere else, he cautioned rural residents to be proactive.

"If all of a sudden you see people move in and notice all kinds of traffic,
get on that phone. I don't care, call collect."

"Call collect, if you call us," he said. "I have no problem taking a phone
call."

Blacked out windows and people who exclusively use cash are other warning
signs, he said. Garbage that has been dumped where there is a crystal meth
lab is contaminated and should only be picked up by authorized personnel.

Babchuk also cautioned those who have anhydrous ammonia tanks on their
property to be aware of theft as ammonia is used to make the drug. He said
the ammonia is often collected in propane tanks. It takes about five or six
gallons of hydrogen ammonia to manufacture crystal meth.

"If you see propane tanks in the ditch or on the property, give us a call.
Don't handle them on your own. And if you see footprints leading up to your
tank give us a call."

The RCMP officer said it's important people are aware of the seriousness of
the drug and how easily accessible it is.

"You can make it right here, right in Benalto," he said.

Ric Henderson, protective services director for Red Deer County, also spoke
at the meeting about preventing crime by being proactive.

"Look after your property and make it uninviting for criminals," he said.
"Think like a criminal -- if I broke into this place, how would I get out
of here? Criminals are lazy, they are looking for a crime of opportunity."

Henderson said Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, an approach
to crime prevention based on principles that can be applied easily and
inexpensively to remodeling or building, has been adopted by the county.

This year the program focused on visiting businesses within the county to
provide information about crime prevention. Henderson said he is budgeting
to continue the program and focus on residential visits next year.