Pubdate: Wed, 01 Nov 2006
Source: Valley Sentinel, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Valley Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.thevalleysentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4237

VETERAN OFFICER SAYS THE DRUG IS SCARY...

In the 12 years Valemount Constable Ed Burstrom has been with the 
RCMP he's seen a lot. He had a good look at the damage crystal meth 
does to its users during the six years he worked in the Fort McMurray 
area. "My experience is hands-on, on the street. I've seen some 
really nasty outcomes," he said.

Burstrom says that from what he's seen the drug is highly addictive 
and the damage it does is irreversible. "One doctor told me the only 
way off it is death."

He said crystal meth gets mixed with alcohol and other drugs and the 
results "are just scary." Both mental and physical health is 
seriously compromised while users are on the drug and they are sick 
without it. "They get deathly ill if they don't have it," he said.

Burstrom says two things make controlling the use of crystal meth 
difficult. One is the inability of those close to people 
experimenting with crystal meth to recognize the problem. The other 
is the time and effort needed to prosecute traffickers under Canadian law.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine