Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jun 2005
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Copyright: 2005 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: Charlene Tebbutt, Saskatchewan News Network
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

DETOX A TOUGH PROCESS

PRINCE ALBERT -- Visions of flying bats, Harry Potter characters and ogres 
taunted a young woman trying to recover from a powerful addiction.

The teen, now 16, has been clean for the last five months. But she spent 
three years using crystal meth, up to a half gram every three hours.

"It seemed so real to me," she says of the visions.

But the hallucinations weren't all the teen dealt with as she struggled to 
stay away from the powerful and addictive drug. She lost control of her 
bowel movements, had diarrhea and wet the bed several times at night.

"I was kind of just like a dead person walking ... I had really bad 
withdrawals, like hard core," says the youth, whose name has not been 
published to protect her identity.

The drug, which once kept the teen awake for 22 straight days, took months 
to leave her system. After several days under psychiatric care, she was 
finally treated at a drug rehabilitation centre for 28 days.

Glenis Clarke, youth and family co-ordinator with addictions services in 
the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region, says everyone handles drug 
withdrawal differently depending on how much crystal meth they have used 
and for how long. Some will go through drug-induced psychosis, such as 
paranoia or auditory and verbal hallucinations.

There is always a risk of an addict attempting suicide during the 
withdrawal stage, and since crystal meth is a stimulant, the need to sleep 
and eat is excessive after a person stops using, she says.

"All of them crash physically (and) they're not thinking clearly," Clarke says.

"It is important they get themselves in a safe environment."

Crystal meth addicts account for 20 to 30 per cent of the cases at 
addictions services, Clarke says. But counsellors often also provide 
support to family members of addicts without opening an additional case file.

Clarke says there is always a demand for more services, including quicker 
access to services, a safe place for addicts to stabilize and respite care 
to continue the healing process. Patients using stimulants such as crystal 
meth also need to be seen more frequently by counsellors than some others.

Roger Carriere, executive director of the community care branch of 
Saskatchewan Health, says those needing drug treatment can usually access a 
detox bed within two days.

But many patients are able to be treated immediately in a detox facility, 
he says.

Those waiting to get into long-term treatment might have to wait a month or 
two before a bed becomes available, Carriere says. During that time, 
however, they often receive detox or out-patient treatment.

Support, nutrition and a safe environment are all crucial when an addict 
enters treatment and begins drug withdrawal, Clarke says. Family support 
and spiritual and medical counselling are also important.

But even after spending time in treatment and counselling, the 
hallucinations -- including some involving her own family -- followed the 
teenager home.

"I just thought I was tripping," she says.

Today, the teen still has regular cravings for the drug that once ruled her 
life. She chain smokes cigarettes to try to deal with the urges.

Regular use of the drug has left her with severe short-term memory loss and 
she has trouble in school. She easily becomes angry and says she often 
"flips out" over small things.

Her former drug addiction has also made her a target for gossip from some 
of her classmates.

"I definitely messed up my reputation," she says.

The teen is on also probation and must follow a variety of court 
conditions, having gotten into trouble with the law for carrying crystal 
meth. The criminal charges helped push the teen into drug rehab.

After five months without crystal meth, the young woman says she still 
struggles every day to stay out of jail and away from the drug. She wants 
to stay in school and get a car one day, and hopes to regain the trust she 
lost to her addiction.

But she recently ended up back in court after getting caught with 
marijuana. She wishes others would realize how hard she struggles.

"I choose every day to stay off meth," the teen says.

"It's different every day, (and) basically, I'm dealing with this alone."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom