Pubdate: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 Source: Sherwood Park News (CN AB) Copyright: 2003 Sherwood Park News Contact: http://www.bowesnet.com/spnews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1730 Author: Taylor Witiw DRUGS SHOW NO MERCY It has come to my attention recently that the aftermath of using drugs is not widely known. A short while ago a constable paid a visit to our school on the vocation of briefing us on the effects of taking drugs. Our (being the students) first reaction was swift; "Awesome! Two periods off classes!" Yet little did we know that we were about to encounter a lesson that would seem like entering the twilight zone. The presentation, to say the least, was visually disturbing. It featured unnatural aging, hallucinogenic effects, destroyed brains, and discontented people. The cast was made up of several different drugs, such as marijuana, ecstasy, crystal meth, and many others. This cast proved to be more destructive than I had previously thought. We were also shown several movie clips, one of which was a portion of a very graphic Grade 12 video. Our class was also fed startling facts, such as on the first usage of crystal meth over 80 per cent of the users were addicted. There was also a display of several different drugs at the front of the room and a box containing the ingredients for different drugs. Our constable put all this effort in to save us from a mistake with horrific and dire consequences. I believe in the end our constable struck home. Her personal encounters with an undercover unit and extensive knowledge on drugs truly informed us of the dangers of taking narcotics. From movie clips to the drugs themselves, our constable proved to be truly resourceful, and for that I thank her. The information she presented proved to be invaluable and her message adhered to our minds. These talks and wisdom became fairly well versed at the deception that lies behind drugs, as well as its effective and destructive arsenal. In summary, the message was fairly simple: Drugs, no matter how innocent they appear, are addictive, destructive, and will show no mercy. They are brutal, crushing both dreams and lives alike. After hearing and seeing what we did, it became hard not to comprehend that drugs offer nothing, and they only take what isn't theirs -- your money, friends, life, time, emotions, mind, and will. Saying "no" to drugs: The concept logical, the option possible, and the outcome preferable. I know I will never take drugs. Thank you again to the constable for sharing your message. Taylor Witiw Sherwood Park - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake