Researchers with the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/Aids released a study Wednesday painting a grim picture of crystal methamphetamine use among street youth in Vancouver.

Of the 478 street kids interviewed for the federally funded study, nearly 94 per cent reported it was "very easy" to find the drug.

The study also suggested teens who started using the highly addictive drug — which can be swallowed, injected, snorted or smoked — were much more likely to try other injection drugs.

Although crystal meth is known to be widely used by street youth, the study was among the first to examine how initial use of the drug leads to the use of other banned substances.

It said the strong link between crystal meth and injection drugs highlights the need for an innovative drug policy to address the growing problem.