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“It’s a big problem. And methamphetamine addiction is not something that can be cured overnight. It’s a long process.”

Police and outreach workers believe there needs to be a harder look at identifying and addressing the root cause as to why someone may turn to use of the drug in the first place, especially when meth addiction has no official treatment.

Cheaper than cocaine

Kevin began using meth in high school, around 1996. He said he was curious about the drug, sought it out and bought it from his marijuana dealer. He was later able to “stay clean” and off the drug for about 13 years until a divorce and his mother’s death led him to cocaine.

“I was already pretty much broke by the time I got into that. So it’s not like I spent all my money on drugs. I was kind of just falling apart,” Kevin said recently during an interview at Boyle Street.

“I ended up starting back on meth, thank God because I would probably be in jail right now if I stayed on cocaine because it costs a lot more money.”

He started using meth again about two years ago. He had trouble working because of the drug use and ended up living on the streets for about five months.

“I’m a bit different than some of the meth users because I don’t really do any crime really,” he said. “I tend to be broke all the time. I’m not out robbing people to support my habit, I usually just try to get by on what I have.”

The cheap price of meth is what led him back to the drug two years ago.

“You can spend $100 and use it for almost the entire week, whereas with cocaine you spend $100, you’re good for the hour,” said Kevin.