Pubdate: Wed, 08 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

COUNSELLOR SAYS DRUG USERS DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING...

Dorit Perlin, Robson Valley child and youth mental health counsellor, 
says there's something very sinister about the way drug peddlers get 
young people addicted to crystal meth. She says the highly addictive 
drug is often hidden in party drugs like ecstasy, and before the user 
knows it he or she is hooked. "A person becomes addicted to this 
pill, whatever it is they think they are taking, at the same rate as 
they would for crystal meth," she said, "but they don't know it."

As for the addictive properties of crystal meth, Perlin says it's 
like no other drug. "There's no comparison. There's nothing else out 
there like it. Taking it once and that's pretty much it," she said.

As well as being highly addictive, crystal meth is exceptionally 
harmful. Even when it's mixed with ecstasy the user will suffer all 
its adverse effects. "That includes the actual physical and 
psychological effects such as potential psychosis and deterioration 
of tissue," said Perlin.

Much like the addictive property of tobacco has been used to get and 
keep young people buying ciqarettes, the addictive property of 
crystal meth is used to keep young people spending money on drugs. 
"But in a far more twisted way," said Perlin.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine