Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jun 2006
Source: Golden Star (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Golden Star
Contact:  http://www.thegoldenstar.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2144
Author: Lorene Keitch
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

A crystal methamphetamine forum held last week brought out community 
members to discuss the dangers of the drug and ways to combat its use 
in Golden.

Crystal meth kills brain tissue, attracts users as young as Grade 8 
and 9 and it will wreak havoc in Golden as it has in other 
communities if an action plan is not established, according to 
speakers at the forum.

The audience watched a documentary called Crystal Clear, Crystal 
Fear. The movie, which was made in Hope B.C., is about the struggles 
of three teenagers and their families coping with crystal meth use.

RCMP member Joceyln Foidart involved the audience in a lively 
discussion period following her presentation. Attendees learned a 
great deal about this highly addictive drug. Crystal Meth Task Force 
co-ordinator Kathy Collins said she hopes that -- armed with the 
right information -- parents, youth and community members will take 
the dangers of the drug seriously.

Constable Foidart presented information about the effects of crystal 
meth and what the local RCMP is doing to prevent the drug from taking 
an insidious hold on the community.

"Right now we don't have a huge crystal meth problem in Golden," she 
said to the crowd. "So I think it's really important that we keep on 
with the forums and grass-roots education."

In her presentation Foidart discussed the many physical effects of 
taking crystal meth including hallucinations, memory loss, depression 
and fatigue. She said people on crystal meth scratch fiercely at 
their skin because they think it's covered in bugs, resulting in huge 
scab wounds on their bodies.

But the consequences can be even worse.Foidart showed an image of the 
brain of a crystal meth user that showed brain tissue destroyed by 
crystal meth use.

Even youth who think they are not taking crystal meth might be, 
Foidart warned. "Just because you don't think you're taking meth, 
doesn't mean you're not," she said citing a local example where 
marijuana joints had been dipped in crystal meth.

And for those who think that Golden does not have a problem with any 
drugs, Foidart shot that theory right through the heart. "There's a 
lot of drugs in Golden -- there's an absolute ton of drugs." About 85 
per cent of the local RCMP detachment's calls for service are alcohol 
or drug related.

Foidart says as a community, we have to pull together and have a 
common vision for eliminating crystal meth from the streets of Golden.

"We need to step up and say we're not going to tolerate it here," she 
concluded.

Following her presentation, Foidart and

Sgt. Marko Shehovac were questioned on RCMP initiatives to curb drug 
use in the area.

Among the ideas presented was the idea of drug-free zones. Foidart 
says the RCMP are looking at implementing drug-free zones in Golden, 
possibly at Kumsheen Park, Golden secondary school and the skateboard park.

Foidart says if these zones are implemented, it will mean harsher 
penalties for people caught with drugs in the designated zones.

Phil Taylor, chief administrative officer for the Town of Golden, 
introduced the Crystal Clear, Crystal Fear video. Taylor is familiar 
with the families in the video; he says they're just like the rest of 
us -- parents who worked, owned a house, and the teenagers were "not 
your typical wayward kids."

The video showed how cheap, easy to get and highly addictive crystal 
meth is and how it can destroy a family. An alternate school teacher 
from Hope interviewed in the video said he saw first-hand the 
struggles of his students on crystal meth, noting of one of the 
teenagers, "As much as he knows it's ruining his life, he loves it."

The task force, which was implemented in April under the guidance of 
the Golden Rotary Club, has already conducted a survey and is 
currently tabulating the results to find out what people in the 
community know about crystal meth and who may be the most vulnerable 
members of our population.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman