Pubdate: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 Source: Ladysmith-Chemanius Chronicle (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 BC Newspaper Group & New Media Contact: http://www.ladysmithchronicle.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1279 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) WHAT IS CRYSTAL METH? Crystal methamphetamine is derived from amphetamine, a synthetic drug that stimulates the heart and respiration, restricts blood vessels, and induces sleeplessness. Over the years amphetamines have been used as a legitimate medication as an appetite suppressant for weight loss, an anti-depressant, and a stimulant. The U.S. Air Force was known to use amphetamines during World War II to keep its pilots awake on long missions. Crystal meth comes in clear, chunky crystals and can be smoked, injected, or mixed into tablets of the popular party drug ecstasy, also known as "e". The drug is easily produced in small, clandestine labs by mixing a volatile cocktail of about 15 chemicals. The main ingredient pseudophedrine, a cold remedy, is cooked with chemicals commonly found at hardware stores, including paint thinner, ammonia, Drano, and lithium from batteries. The recipe is widely available on the Internet. While relatively simple to make, crystal meth is also toxic and poses a serious threat to the environment. Every kilogram of the drug produces five kilograms of chemical waste that is often dumped into streams, poured on fields, or flushed down toilets. Canada's crystal meth problem is worst in the province of British Columbia. The number of deaths from methamphetamine rose from three in 2000 to 33 in 2004. Most of the deaths were overdoses or traffic accidents where the driver was high on crystal meth. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin