Pubdate: Wed, 08 Feb 2006
Source: Prince George Free Press (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.pgfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2135
Author: Arthur Williams
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

'CAN YOU MAKE THE VOICES GO AWAY?'

People packed the Canfor Theatre at UNBC, Feb. 2, to hear from 
politicians and experts on the impact of methamphetamine - commonly 
known as meth or crystal meth -use in the province.

Solicitor General John Les, Education Minister Shirley Bond, Prince 
George-Omineca MLA John Rustad, Mayor Colin Kinsley, criminology 
professor Terry Waterhouse of the University College of the Fraser 
Valley and Fraser House addictions councillor Angela Marshall spoke 
about some of the effects of the drug, and about what solutions may exist.

"Crystal meth is cheap and quite accessible in most communities. But 
the social costs of crystal meth are enormous," Les said. "The drug 
is ripping apart families. If you take it once, it can kill you. The 
stories are truly heartbreaking."

The government has set aside $7 million for community-based programs 
to combat the drug, he said. Prince George's share equals $10,000 
which the City can apply for.

In addition, he said, Bond's ministry is developing a meth education 
curriculum targeting students in Grades 8-12 about the dangers of 
using the drug.

Marshall said meth can be made with over the counter pseudo-ephedrine 
based cold medications and household chemicals like red phosphorus 
from matchbooks, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, acetone and brick scrubber.

"Meth is also cut with cheap toxic chemicals like Windex, battery 
acid, antifreeze, lye, gasoline, rat poison and bleach," she said. 
"Meth is more of a poison than a drug."

It's usually sold in powder or crystal form in small plastic "point 
bags" for $5 to $10 a "point," she said. "One point is enough for 
three kids to get high for four to six hours," she said.

It is either smoked, snorted like cocaine, injected intravenously, 
dissolved in liquid and drank, or eaten in the form of tablets or 
loose powder wrapped in tissue, she said.

At first it creates an intense feeling of euphoria, energy and mental 
focus, she said. "It sounds too good to be true, and it is," she 
said. "It just eats you inside out."

Side effects of the drug include rapid weight loss, bleeding sores 
all over the body, tooth rot, confusion, paranoia, random aggression, 
depression, and even permanent psychosis, she said.

"I got a call from a 17-year-old boy. He said, 'I hear you can help 
me. Can you make the voices go away?' I couldn't," Marshall said. 
"Sometimes [with treatment] they get better and sometimes the voices 
don't go away."

When high, meth addicts often engage in obsessive, repetitive tasks 
like cleaning, doodling or picking at sores, she said. This is known 
as "teching," she added.

"They can pick themselves down to the bone," she added.

"Sketching" is a when meth addicts start experiencing delusions, 
voices and paranoia, she said.

"It's a terrifying state of mind. The shadows come in, then they 
start taking shapes and talking," Marshall said.

"Tweaking" is perhaps the most dangerous of the behaviors commonly 
associated with meth. "It can result in totally unprovoked rage and 
violence," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom