Pubdate: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Nelly Elayoubi STREET KIDS SHOWING SIGNS OF METH USE Street kids are showing the effects of meth use and a frontline worker wants to see a city task force set up to tackle the problem. Tom Sidney, former manager of prevention and public education at Operation Go Home, first heard rumblings of the illicit stimulant drug back in March among the street youth. Workers are increasingly seeing the effects of crystal meth in the street youth population. RAPID WEIGHT LOSS "We're starting to see the breakouts on their face, we're starting to see the rapid weight loss, the gaunt look and different types of behaviour," Sidney said. Since then, staff has been busy learning as much as they can about meth and working hard to educate youth on the highly addictive drug. While youth aren't necessarily choosing to buy the drug, other drugs such as crack and even marijuana are being laced with meth. "To be honest, I don't think most of them even realize they're doing it," Sidney said. Mike Beauchesne, who runs the addictions programs at the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, has seen an increase in crystal meth use among teens in the last year, but pot and alcohol remain the drugs of choice among the centre's teens. Although the city has launched its integrated drugs and addictions strategy, that includes a residential youth treatment program, Sidney wants to see an advisory committee established to specifically deal with crystal meth in Ottawa. "We can't stop it from coming here, we can only limit the impact it will have once it is here," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine