Pubdate: Wed, 18 May 2005
Source: High River Times (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 High River Times
Contact:  http://www.highrivertimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/781
Author: Bruce Campbell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

CRYSTAL METH NOT YET A MAJOR PROBLEM IN AREA

Cheap Price Makes Drug Attractive To Youth

High River Times -- There is not a lot of evidence of crystal meth in High 
River - but it's a good idea for parents to be prepared if and when the 
drug speeds into the community.

"Crystal meth is so cheap and so dangerous - that is why it is such a big 
concern," said High River AADAC addictions counsellor Judy Walbridge at the 
Highwood high school council meeting on May 4. "It is cheap, easily 
accessible and young people testing the world may choose to test with it."

Crystal meth (methamphetamine) isn't a new drug. In fact its use has been 
documented throughout the 20th century. In the 1960s its street name was 
speed - as in "Speed kills," the anti-drug campaign.

Walbridge said one of the dangers of crystal meth is it is more addictive 
than other drugs such as marijuana and alcohol.

"It could be several years before an alcoholic takes his or her first drink 
and becomes a full-blown addict and their lives are a mess," Walbridge 
said. "With crystal meth, it could take just a few months."

"So we (the community) need to be more vigilant. When people start chasing 
the high of crack (cocaine) or crystal meth, there's a lot less time for 
dependency on crystal meth."

So far, she hasn't seen a lot of crystal meth clients in High River.

"There are a lot of pot and alcohol (problems) showing up at my door," 
Walbridge said. "I don't see much of meth."

She said it would be naive to think that Highwood high school or any high 
school in the High River-Okotoks area is immune to drug problems.

"The fact is, there are drugs and alcohol in every (high) schoolyard in 
Alberta," Walbridge said.

She said every youth is going to "test the world," however, parents can 
help in trying to make their children's choices as safe as possible.

She said youths having positive self-esteem, high but reasonable goals, 
solid role models and youths doing purposeful things in life (such as 
sports, reading, music, drama and others) are less likely to become 
involved with drug use.

High River Staff Sgt. Glen Plustwa said there have been no crystal meth 
charges laid in his nearly three years in the community.

"But our intelligence indicates that it does exist in the community," 
Plustwa said. "It is coming - there won't be any community that won't be 
affected."

He added the information gathered is not sufficient to act upon.

Facts from AADAC concerning crystal meth:

Methamphetamine is also called "meth," "crystal," "ice," "speed," "jib" and 
"crank." Methamphetamine is a drug that stimulates the central nervous 
system. When people use methamphetamine, they feel alert and energetic and 
often have no interest in food or sleep.

Users may experience any or all of the following negative effects:

* rapid and unhealthy weight loss (under no circumstances should this drug 
be considered as an aid to weight loss)

* sores on the skin, or itchy skin which can lead to scratching, sores and 
infection

* confusion, irrational anger, paranoia and irritability

* damage to the inside of the nose from "railing" (snorting) the drug

* out of control rages (violent and aggressive behaviour referred to as 
"tweaking")

* problems with thinking, memory, concentration and movement

* brain damage - there is evidence that brain damage occurs in some users
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom