Crystal meth danger fears

1:59pm Monday 18th February 2008

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POLICE in North Yorkshire are keeping a watchful eye out for any signs of the highly addictive drug "crystal meth".

The drug could become as big a problem as crack cocaine within the next four years, according to a new police report.

An investigation carried out by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) has predicted the drug has grown in popularity and could become a problem on the same scale as other Class A drugs like crack cocaine.

So far the drug has not hit the county but police are monitoring the drug scene in both North So far the county has not hit the county, but police are monitoring the drug scene in both North Yorkshire and neighbouring counties for any signs.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "North Yorkshire and the City of York has never had any confirmed seizures of crystal meth.

"There have been occasions in the past where it has been suspected, but when forensic tests were carried out it turned out to be either crystal ecstasy or amphetamine.

"We are constantly monitoring its availability in the county and in neighbouring forces.

"We are certainly awake to the fact that it is available in the UK, but at present it does not appear to be a problem in our policing area."

Use of the drug, which is a form of crystallised methamphetamine, has reached epidemic levels in parts of America and Australia.

The report compares UK growth and patterns of use to that in each of these countries.

Chief Constable Tim Hollis, of Humberside Police, who chairs ACPO's drugs committee, said: "We are in no way complacent but we are very alert to the dangers and closely monitoring the problem within the UK.

"Our concern is to focus on what we know now and to work with partners in order to warn people of the potential dangers of the drug."

Acpo successfully campaigned for crystal meth to be reclassified as a Class A drug in January 2007.

People who use methamphetamine face up to seven years in jail and an unlimited fine, while dealers could be jailed for life.

The drug is highly addictive and can cause paranoia, kidney failure and internal bleeding.