What's the scale of the meth problem out there?

I listened to PM the other day. Grantley Haynes from Birmingham DAAT/COCA was on, amongst others.
The view was that there was a monster coming over the hill, already over the hill, eating our babies etc.

Clearly it's a pretty grim drug.
The police seem to be getting worried about it.
But is it out there in a 'tipping point' sort of way?

And what about in our neck of the woods Greater Manchester colleagues -s eeing much of it in treatment services?

Simon

If you can get yourself down to the RCGP for the PANN meeting on 27th Feb, Dr Kostas Agath is giving a presentation on the latest situation. Check out posts by Healther W giving details on booking. If you can't make it, the presentation should be posted on this site soon after?
For what its worth...I have not come across any treatment seekers, but am aware Meth is part of the gay clubbers drug scene.

Jane

I haven't heard of anyone using this here yet !

Two fella's from the Isle of White just got ten years respectively for trying to open up a series of crystal meth labs. the word on the street was they were never going to get it together and were just streaming mioney from a private funder.

In saying that its not that difficult to put together. We could possibly see the skunk farms becoming Ice houses if the current trend for closing them down continues.

Our urine test kits test for it automatically. We've only had 2 positive tests in the last 2-3 years, with a caseload of 600+ rising to 800+ in that time. Neither person knew they had taken it, both thought had only had crack. One thought it was poor quality crack - hadn't enjoyed the hit at all...

Mind you this is Halifax we're talking about, not always the trendsetting town we like to think it is!

I think i've posted on this site before about the manufacturing process -in my opinion the idea that it is easy is a myth - it takes days and uses every single type of chemical reaction I ever learned about in A-level chemistry, and alot of nasty chemicals (like phosphorous - highly explosive)

and here's me thinking you were in hebden bridge.. the hampstead of the north!

Golly I've heard it called lots of things but that's a new one on me. HB (where I live) is usually noted for its high concentration of soap actors/writers, and is often referred to these days as the 'Lesbian capital of the North' (used to be the 'town responsible for the lentil shortage in Asia' - predominance of hippies). Free love ethos gave rise to the joke 'Q: What's the definition of confusion? A: Father's day in Hebden Bridge! Continuing anti-establishment leanings amongst influx population mean we have our very own Alternative Technology Centre, whilst indiginous plain-speaking Yorkshire folk are ably represented by Sir Bernard Inham (Margaret Thatcher's press secretary) who routinely lambasts the local windfarms in his column in the HB Times
The town signs say grandly it's the 'Gateway to Calderdale' (of which Halifax, where I work, 8 miles away, is the administrative centre). Hope that's cleared up any confusion, and whetted your appetite to make a detour some day - so many cafes to chose from!

Susi,
Thanks to our recent chat I have looked to see what makes headlines in Hebden bridge and must share it with everyone
"NO PHONE PUTS FERRETS AT RISK"

http://www.hebdenbridgetoday.co.uk/

That's almost up there with:
"Shed almost broken into".

Tis a complicated recipe and no doubt a recipe for disaster


Sorry Banksy I have deleted this as it could put us in a difficult politacal and legal position. If my colleagues disagree I will reinstate the link.

Jim

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jim Barnard,