Pubdate: Sat, 21 Feb 2009
Source: Burnaby Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.burnabynow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1592
Author: Christina Myers
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE WITH RHYTHM

Addiction can make people do insane things - like continuing to take 
a drug that makes them suicidal, paranoid, gives them hallucinations 
or delusions, can lead to liver damage and brain damage, makes them 
itch and causes vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia and, ultimately, death.

Those are just a few of the side effects of methamphetamine, also 
known as crystal meth, ice, glass, crank, speed or chalk. It is one 
of the most addictive and readily available drugs out there and one 
that educators and police are increasingly seeing among teenagers.

Students in Burnaby recently had the chance to learn more about 
crystal meth and drug addiction in a form that some are hoping will 
be more conducive to spreading the word and changing behaviours.

Cranked is one-man play that tells the story of Stan, a rising star 
who loses it all because of a meth habit. Performed through spoken 
word and hip-hop, the Green Thumb Theatre production offers a unique 
avenue for youth to get engaged in the topic, and it's been receiving 
rave reviews for doing just that.

Actor Kyle Cameron has been performing as Stan since the play was 
first done in 2006 and says that, when it comes to teens, the key is 
keeping an open door.

"It doesn't pander, it doesn't preach. We keep the 'after-school 
special' out of it - the moment something gets cheesy and preachy, 
kids would tune out," he says.

They're certainly on to something: reviews of the show and feedback 
from audience members have been stellar.

"What we hear, the responses we get, is that yes, this show is having 
an impact on them."

Cameron is both hopeful and realistic about the long-term effect.

"If you're performing in front of 400 kids - were all 400 touched 
deeply? Probably not. But if some of them were, and they go on and 
remember that, and talk to their friends, that can change someone's life."

The show was brought to Burnaby with the help of the school 
district's substance abuse prevention worker Brenda Leface.

She says the district does a variety of drug awareness programs but 
says that Cranked was something she thought would really appeal to 
the students.

It also provides an opportunity to let kids know that there are 
people to turn to.

"It's important for them to realize that there's someone out there 
who can understand where they are. It's about opening up 
communication and trust."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom