Pubdate: Thu, 30 Dec 2004
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Copyright: 2004 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: Karen Brownlee, Leader-Post
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

CRYSTAL METH SPREADING UNLIKE OTHER DRUGS - POLICE

Crystal meth endangers users and communities like no other drug and
its popularity has rapidly grown in Regina over the last year, say
those familiar with it.

Other drugs -- such as marijuana and cocaine -- are still more
prevalent in the city, said Sgt. Gerry Good of the integrated drug
unit. But other drugs do not make users as paranoid, he said.

"One thing we're seeing with methamphetamines is an increase in the
number of firearms," said Good. "In 1988, I saw one gun. Now it is
assumed every one of these people is armed. They are (a) danger to
themselves and everyone around them."

Also, the chemicals and volatility of the illegal labs making this
drug are a fire and environmental risk, said Cpl. Caroline Houston, a
member of the proceeds of crime section of the Regina Police Service.

Officers have found locations in Saskatoon, Lampman and Indian Head
with the chemicals capable of producing the drug, but none cooking it.
The occupant of a Regina house destroyed by fire this year confessed
he was trying to make crystal meth, said Good.

Patrol officers first noticed crystal meth on individuals in 2003,
said Good and Houston. A trafficking operation -- made up of people
from Calgary and Winnipeg bringing it in from Alberta -- was busted in
the city in November.

"It exploded this summer," said Good. "It started coming in fast and
furious all of a sudden after this group had taken root in the city."

Crystal meth has been in Regina since at least the summer of 2002,
said a former user who became a dealer.

Michael Lund had tried other drugs, but nothing hooked him like
crystal meth. An acquaintance told him the drug would allow him to
work long hours.

"Once you use it, you're stuck with it," the business manager said.
"It totally absorbs you."

When that acquaintance lost his mind from using the drug, Lund took
over his operation. It ended when the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to
crystal meth trafficking charges among others in October.

He is now serving an 18-month conditional sentence at home with
electronic monitoring. Lund is staying off the drug by working and
attending Narcotics Anonymous five times a week after detoxing in jail.

"Things have to stop before it gets really intense in this city. I've
never seen anything grow like this before. The usage and the people
using it and the attraction to this drug is phenomenal."

Crystal meth is attractive because it costs the same as cocaine, but
the high lasts much longer than a lot of other drugs, said Houston.
People between the ages of 16 and 50 from the poorest to the richest
neighbourhoods in Regina are using it, said Good.

Users can go days without sleeping or eating, said Lund, making it
appealing to young women and girls wanting to lose weight. Those same
girls may then be sexually exploited, said Good and Houston.

Crystal meth addicts' bodies decay before your eyes, said Lund, Good
and Houston. Lund has seen some of the people he used to associate
with disintegrate.

"I see them now and my God, these people are dying. ... They have big
gashes on their faces and their teeth are falling out and they look
really jaundiced."

"I never looked like that and I'm glad, but maybe it would have
hastened my approach to this whole recovery instead of having to go to
jail to get this whole thing dealt with."

Jean McGillivray is dealing with nerve and tissue damage in her hands
and arms as well as borderline emphysema after using crystal meth.

McGillivray said crystal meth can not be used occasionally like the
marijuana and cocaine she had tried before. "They say a drug is a drug
is a drug, but this is so different," said the 37-year-old from Naicam.

That is why the government cannot lump crystal meth in with other
drugs in its strategy to deal with substance abuse prevention,
treatment and enforcement, said Saskatchewan Party MLA June Draude.

"I know a lot of bureaucrats like to say it's behind a lot of other
drugs, but I don't care where it is on the list," said Draude, who has
talked to young people, inmates, corrections staff, police and
families about crystal meth.

"It is the one drug that is so addictive that if somebody starts using
it, it is going to wreck their lives."

Crystal meth may warrant a separate strategy, said Saskatoon
Sutherland MLA Graham Addley. He won't know until he reviews the
province's current strategy in the new year.

"Crystal meth right now is the drug getting all the headlines. Three
years ago, it was ecstasy and when I first got elected, it was crack
cocaine," said Addley. "I think we have to take those drugs seriously
as they come about and make sure we deal with them, but not to the
exclusion of dropping the ball in other areas."
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