Pubdate: Tue, 23 May 2006
Source: Ladysmith-Chemanius Chronicle (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 BC Newspaper Group & New Media
Contact:  http://www.ladysmithchronicle.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1279
Author: Ron Waller
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

HAVEN'T WE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE '60S DRUG CULTURE?

WHAT BUGS ME:

I grew up in the 1960s drug culture and wherever I went there was 
acid, speed, hash and any other assortment of drugs you can think of. 
I graduated from high school in 1967 and then worked for a year in 
the mill and went back to high school in 1969 to pick up some courses 
to attend BCIT.

I could not believe the change.

In that one year the culture went from having a cigarette out at the 
bridge to getting stoned during class breaks. Half of my classmates 
in 1969 were stoned all through school. The change was amazing. Many 
lives were snuffed out and changed due to the drug culture of the 
'60s and '70s.

So here we are today almost 40 years later and nothing has been 
learned. Not a thing. We baby boomers who brought in this drug 
culture haven't taught our children one thing.

Forty years ago it was called speed. Today it is called crystal meth. 
What is it? It is a stimulant. I am not going to go into details 
about the ingredients but crystal users often extend speed "runs" for 
days or weeks, without food or rest, putting impossible demands on 
their bodies and brains. We have all seen on TV the car thief who was 
on crystal meth acting so hyper and having no fear. It is a killer.

That's why it's not a big mystery that you don't run into many old 
speed freaks in the real world.

They don't live long enough to get old.

At the rate things are going there won't be a generation 40 years from now.

What I don't understand is aren't kids smart enough to realize what 
they are doing? Look at your friends who are addicted. Look at how 
their lives are ruined. Look how they are scorned by everyone. It is 
a fine line between being cool trying crystal meth once and being 
ridiculed for being an addict. It only takes one time and you could be hooked.

So maybe we as the generation who started all this should take the 
time to talk to the new generation and educate them rather than scorn 
them for continuing what we started. Let's educate our kids on the 
harm they are doing to themselves and the slippery slope they are on.

We owe it to them.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom