Pubdate: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 Source: Duncan News Leader (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Duncan News Leader Contact: http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1314 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) METH DEATH: IT DIDN'T GET ITS NAME BY BEING CUDDLY AND CUTE Okay. Here's the deal. Straight up. Crystal meth is one bad drug. If this is news to you, keep reading. If it isn't, put down the newspaper, go grab your kids and give them a hug, and thank whatever power you believe in for not letting them get involved with this fiercely life-shattering garbage. Hug them tight. Crystal methamphetamine is rough stuff. It's a cheap, highly addictive synthetic stimulant that is made from some of the harshest chemicals you can find in hardware and drug stores. And it's made in basements. Not sterile labs with controlled measurements. Not by folks who know what they are doing. It's made by self-taught chemists in filthy cellars, kitchens, warehouses and just about anywhere that it can be done without the police finding out. People learn how to make it through word of mouth and, now, the greatest source of info, the Internet. Type in crystal meth on your search engine and descriptions like schizophrenic-type behaviour, paranoia, central nervous system damage, addiction and bizarre, aggressive, psychotic behaviour pop up. The province of B.C. just announced a drug strategy to combat crystal meth by joining together various agencies from RCMP to treatment centres to local health authorities. Sounds like a great plan. As long as it's more than just talk. As long as it has some teeth. If a war on crystal meth is what we're going to undertake, we better have the means to take it down. It ain't a soft, cuddly adversary. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake