Pubdate: Wed, 14 Mar 2007 Source: King Township Sentinel, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 King Sentinel Contact: http://www.kingsentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4369 Author: Bill Rea POLICE UPDATE BOARD ON PROGRESS IN WAR ON DRUGS Drugs Problems Can Exist Anywhere, Including In Any Family. York Regional Police recently hosted a public presentation which outlined what kind of drugs are out there, what parents should look for and what the police are doing about it all. Inspector Tom Carrique said there had been a drop in the use of some drugs in York over the last couple of years, but the use of ecstacy is up. He also said the amount of people using solvents is disturbing because there are no laws pertaining to these substances. And despite the reduction in their use, he said there was still problems with cocaine, heroin, glue, crystal meth and LSD. Inhalants include solvents like plastic cement, acetone and benzene; aerosols like hair spray, deodorant, Freon or Pam; or gases like chloroform or nitrous oxide. Carrique said the signs of use of these materials to look for include a flushed face, disoriented or confused appearance, bloodshot or watery eyes, residue of inhaled chemical around the mouth, odour of chemical on their persons or faces, intense headaches, being non-communicative, and nausea. Carrique said a survey was conducted among Grade 7 to 12 students in 2005 on their use of substances over previous year. The results showed 62 per cent said they had used alcohol (down 4.2 per cent from the previous survey), 26.5 per cent used cannabis (down 3.1 per cent), 14.4 per cent smoked cigarettes (down 4.8 per cent), 6.7 per cent used hallucinogens (down 3.3 per cent) and 4.4 per cent used cocaine (down less than half a percent). Carrique also went into some of the effects of the various substances. Cannabis, which includes marijuana, hash and hash oil, is probably the most popular drug right across the country. It has effects which last between two and four hours. They include euphoria, relaxed inhibitions, increased appetite, disorientation and personality changes. There is also the possibility of lung damage, chronic bronchitis and low testosterone, as well as the potential for birth defects, still births and infant deaths. He added excessive use could result in fatigue, paranoia and possible psychosis. Withdrawal symptoms can include insomnia, hyperactivity and decreased appetite Marijuana sells for about $10 to $15 per gram, while hash is about $20 to $25 a hit and hash oil goes for between $35 and $45 per gram. When it comes to drugs like cocaine, crack or methamphetamine, these are stimulants, and Carrique said the length of the effects depend on the dosage. The effects include euphoria, alertness, insomnia and loss of appetite, along with increased pulse, blood pressure and body temperature. With extreme doses, the results can include hallucinations, convulsions and possibly death. Withdrawal symptoms can include watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, loss of appetite, irritability, tremors, panic, cramps, nausea chills and sweating. Cocaine sells for $20 to $40 per hit, providing a high of one to two hours, while crack is about $30. Carrique said meth is a "very viable product," selling for $5 to $15 a hit. Ecstacy or MDMA is a very popular hallucinogen, with effects that last four to six hours.They include heightened senses, teeth grinding and dehydration, with possible increased temperature and cardiac arrest in high doses. Withdrawal symptoms include muscle aches, drowsiness, depression and acne. It sells for $25 to $50 a hit. The effects of heroin last three to four hours, and Carrique said they include euphoria, drowsiness, respiratory problems, constricted pupils and nausea, with comas and possible death resulting for overdoses. Withdrawal symptoms include watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, loss of appetite, irritability, tremors, panic, cramps nausea, chills and sweating. A hit of heroin goes for about $30. LSD, ketamine and psilocybin are hallucinogens, with effects including illusions, hallucinations and altered perception of time and distance. Higher doses can result in longer and more intense high, along with an inability to feel pain, detect movement or remember. Carrique said LSD sells for $3 to $5 a hit, while ketamine and psilocybin go for $10 to $15 a hit. He said the signs and symptoms of substance use vary according to the drug involved, but they generally fall into three categories; physical, psychosocial and cognitive. Carrique said the physical indicators include lack of detail to personal appearance, such as failing to clean clothes or shower; changes in energy levels, with spikes followed by declines; changes in the eyes (red, glassy, watery, lack of clarity); changes in skin tones, including burn marks; and needle marks on the body. Psychological indicators include a loss of or change in interests, shortage or need for money with nothing to show for it, change in peer group, isolation from family or friends and the appearance of drug paraphernalia. Cognitive indicators could be memory loss, falling grades, an inability to multitask and mood changes. Carrique pointed out one of these symptoms might not mean a drug problem, but a number of them might be the cue to act. There are a number of things parents can do in terms of prevention, including getting accurate information about substances from reliable sources. Carrique suggested the Regional health department. As well, he said parents can get involved and stay involved in their kids' lives, facilitate meaningful communication in the home, building the child's self esteem, setting rules and being a role model. He also warned parents against losing their credibility. That means getting their facts right, and not doing things like telling their teens drugs will kill them if they use them once. When it comes to intervention, Carrique said parents might have to raise the issue, describing to kids what they have seen (rolling papers, etc.) and letting them explain "and then solving the problem together." Carrique said police are waging a war against drugs, and they are doing it from a number of different angles, including through prevention and intervention, community services, programs through the schools and youth initiatives, as well as enforcement and investigative tools. They include teams that investigate and dismantle marijuana grow-ops. Detective Sergeant Richard Crabtree observed that setting up a grow-op can be lucrative. It costs about $30,000 to establish one, and 1,600 plants can produce about $1.5 million in a year. The maximum penalty for such activity is seven years in prison, but Crabtree said something like 90 days to two years of house arrest is more common, along with suspended sentences and fines. As well, some of these operators have taken counter measures, such as using smaller homes and giving them a lived-in appearance (families, children, etc.), alarm systems, video cameras (so they can monitor police activity), etc. Crabtree said the things to look for in a suspected grow operation include neglected lawns and gardens, windows that are always covered, condensation on windows, little or no garbage (he said that keeps police from going through the trash), vehicles pulling directly into the garage, lights on 24 hours a day (especially in the basement, the smell of laundry softener (it masks other smells), no snow on the roof or foundation and tampering with the hydro meter. Crabtree said there were 65 grow houses known to be in York this year, and he said five of them were in King. Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham is where most of them have been. He added there's been a reduction in the number of people charged with such offences over the last couple of years, but the inventory of plants involved shot up in 2005. In 2002, there were 170 warrants issued, resulting in 221 arrests, 746 charges and the seizure of more than 58,000 plants, with a value of about $58 million. In 2005, there were 101 warrants, 120 arrests and 333 charges, but more than 59,000 plants seized. In addition to adding to drug problems, these grow ops pose other troubles, especially where safety is concerned, in terms of electricity (due to substandard wiring), carbon dioxide, exhaust, toxic mould, chemicals and the danger of explosion. As well, Crabtree said children, ranging in age from three to 18, have been found in these places - more than 100 in the last four years. And he added those are just the grow ops where warrants were executed. There are also impacts to the community, including increased crime rates, health hazards, insurance claims, theft of hydro and real estate fraud, through things like fraudulent mortgage applications. York Regional Police have had a strategy for dealing with this problem since 2003. There have been a number of operations which Crabtree pointed to, resulting in some 90 arrests and more than 500 charges. Carrique also addressed the problem with methamphetamine or meth, also known as ice or glass. He said it offers an intense high, and is sometimes called "the poor man's cocaine." He added it's very addictive and easy to make with ingredients available on pharmacy shelves. That puts it in a "very profitable criminal market," he said. As well, he said a meth lab is easy to set up, adding it can be done from the trunk of a car, which adds to the danger of a possible explosion in a traffic accident. Signs of a meth lab include the odour of chemicals or solvents, blacked or yellow-stained windows, rent being paid in cash, reluctance to allow the landlord in, excessive trash, metal drums and boxes with labels removed or painted over, excessive amounts of chemicals or cold and allergy medication, and red and purple stains on the floors, walls and ceilings. Since 2001, there have been 29 seizures and 40 charges. Carrique said 80 per cent of those charged were males, and 39 per cent were between the ages of 28 and 38, and that was a little surprising. Carrique said they are being successful in the war on drugs, adding they are making progress when it comes to taking away the profits involved. Residents can assist by takin part in Neighbourhood Watch programs, being aware, knowing their rights and responsibilities as a landlord and reporting suspicious activity. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom