Pubdate: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 Source: Saanich News (CN BC) Contact: 818 Broughton Street, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 1E4 Website: http://www.saanichnews.com Author: Ingrid Paulsen DARE TO REMEMBER ----- FEAR AND LOATHING, PEACE AND ONENESS Little did he know it at the time or, for that matter likely care. But when acid corroded a man's face early in 2000 it would single out what was to come - a string of peculiar events in the illicit world of drug use in Saanich and even more importantly our second most interesting story of the year. Police determined that the acid that had melted the man's face was a key ingredient in the manufacture of a drug known on the street as "Crystal Meth" - a substance that experts and non-experts alike guess hasn't been made in these here parts in over two decades. The discovery of a basement laboratory triggered a year of research for the News' intrepid reporter Ingrid Paulsen into the designer drug culture. But the discoveries didn't stop at chemical adulterants. An extensive grow operation of unprecedented magnitude was uncovered in Saanich on Feb. 9. Several thousand Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) of a Mexican variety were found by police in a rental residence on Wilkinson Road. Pot, that ubiquitous homegrown favourite-- stirred things up as well this year, but not in the way most may think. The illicit drugs that surfaced this year were diverse in effect and the experts interviewed by the News were many. But there is at least one thing that everyone agreed on - education is essential for kids and adults alike. That factor alone helped push drugs (no pun intended) high up on the list of most interesting stories. Staff Sgt. Doug Oakley told the News that if 2000 confirmed anything it is that there is a growing problem with methamphetmines, Ecstasy, GHB (commonly known as the Date Rape drug) and other synthetics. He noted that the drugs are easier to make nowadays which makes them much more available. But he feels confident that both on the Island and Lower Mainland key figures who are responsible for the supply have been caught. Oakley said that there is cause for people in the community to be alarmed about drug availability and use in the community, not only because of their inherent dangers, but also the growing tolerance by society particularly for marijuana use and Ecstasy. "Kids at school tell us marijuana is safer than cigarette smoking or alcohol. They are not considering the cancer causing carcinogens that are 400 times stronger than in a normal cigarette," said Oakley. He blames misrepresentative media coverage for giving people a false sense of security. As one example Oakley sites the coverage in the News of the arrest of medical marijuana activist Ted Smith. "Smith is a supporter of the medical use of marijuana, but he was passing joints to students who were not using the drug for the intent he supports. We considered (the arrest) a minor incident and responded to the complaint. And (Saanich News) put it on the front page." Smith said at the time of the arrest that he was looking forward to the trial and a chance to challenge the "ridiculous" law. Because Saanich police confiscated a suitcase, which contained three copies of his Hempology 101 Textbook, Smith insisted he will read the entire 200-page textbook -which outlines dozens of arguments formarijuana legalization - to the court. Oakley is concerned not only about media and political coverage desensitizing the public to the dangers of marijuana, but also the messages being sent regarding illicit stimulants. He argues that a rave hosted by the city of Victoria in the summer sent the wrong message to the teenage population about the acceptability of drug use in society. Here's a run down of the illegal drugs that were seized by authorities in Saanich. -----Crystal Methamphetamine: "Last year over 2,000 labs were uncovered in California," said Steve McNamara, an authority on the drug. "The difference between Canada and the States is that in the States the precursors or the ingredients to make the drugs are regulated so it is illegal to have them in your possession. In Canada, a person could have ephedrine or pseudo-ephedrine used to make Crystal Meth," noted McNamara. Amphetamines are grouped as stimulants for the Central Nervous System (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord. "Crystal Meth", also known as "ice," "Hawaiian Salt," and "rock candy", was derived from the original amphetamine that was introduced in the 1930s to combat nasal congestion. Amphetamines were later prescribed for a number of disorders such as children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), to control obesity and depression. Upon prescribing amphetamines for the latter conditions, doctors learned they were only useful for a short period and had a significant side effect - physical and psychological dependence. "With methamphetamine you can smoke it, snort it or inject it. True 'Crystal Meth' can only be smoked. It is the most hyper-charged biggest rush and the biggest depression," said McNamara. Crystal Methamphetamine resembles shaved glass slivers or clear rock salt. But users, who anticipate the profound depression that inevitably follows the rush, get trapped in the viscous circle that leads to "ice" addiction. In essence methamphetamines are a man-made psycostimulant similar to cocaine in its effects. But the chemical product has a high that lasts about eight to 24 hours compared to the 20 to 30 minute high of cocaine. Of course, that means the drug is in the system longer. It takes methamphetamine 12 hours to be 50 per cent removed from the body, for cocaine it takes one hour. -----Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms): Police uncovered a manufacturing operation on Wilkinson Road where the mushroom spores were grown and then packaged. Mushrooms were found in various stages of development including 30 pounds of dried and packaged mushrooms that were seized, having a bulk value of $30,000. The possibility of police uncovering additional mushroom grow operations is less likely than for other drugs due to the lack of indicators that can tip off police. "These are difficult to come across because there is no tell tale signs. There is no huge Hydro consumption and no smell," said the spokesperson for the Organized Crime Agency (OCA) of British Columbia. "The typical dose for this mushroom is one gram. There are hallucinogenic effects similar to LSD which last six to eight hours. There is also some nausea and discomfort, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and distortion of time," said Richard Laing, analytical specialist for the police and an expert in the manufacture of Psilocybin mushrooms. -----Ecstasy: Ecstasy, which is known in medical circles as Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), originally was patented in 1913 by a German pharmaceutical company. On a six-member panel in a forum held in Saanich to get information out to students and adults on Ecstasy were two addicts of the drug. Panel members agreed on a few points: It is difficult to predict who will become addicted to the drug; it is almost impossible to know what is contained in an Ecstasy pill unless extensive tests are done before it is taken; and, Ecstasy use is widespread and not limited to the Rave culture. "Ecstasy stimulates the release of a neurotransmitter in the brain called serotonin, which has been associated with the regulation of mood," notes the organization for harm reduction, DanceSafe. One of its psychological effects is empathogenisis - a feeling of emotional closeness to others and to oneself coupled with a lifting of communication barriers. Another effect, entactogenisis, is characterized by a generalized feeling that everything is all right and good with the world. The DanceSafe literature also warns of a "post E depression" after the serotonin is released in the brain and is broken down by the body, which results in unnaturally deflated levels of serotonin. Studies suggest it takes between one and two weeks for serotonin levels to return to normal levels. -----Searching for solace It is unfortunate that the story we've chosen to top our list revolves around the brutal death of a teenaged girl three years after the horrific discovery of her body in the Gorge Waterway. But there are two factors that will ensure that this case will continue to make headlines. Kelly Ellard, who was convicted of killing Reena, is appealing the verdict; and, the Virk family has launched civil action against the province, Greater Victoria School District, a Crown prosecutor as well as Ellard, Warren Glowatski, the girls convicted of assaulting Reena and their parents or guardians. The Ellard trial and conviction: Ellard, now 17, was given the minimum sentence after a 12-person jury found her guilty - a life sentence with the possibility of parole in just five years. Her partner in the crime, 18-year-old Warren Paul Glowatski who was also charged with the second-degree murder of Reena was handed the maximum sentence - a life sentence with no possibility of parole for seven years. Following Ellard's conviction, Saanich police who headed up the murder investigation said the age of the witnesses, the location of the crime on the border of three policing jurisdictions and the sheer volume of evidence made it one of the most challenging in the department's history. But they were on pins and needles until the decision was official because the jury in the Ellard trial were permitted access only to portions of the considerable amount of evidence police managed to amass. Glowatski refused to testify against Ellard even though he fingered her as a co-assailant in his own second-degree murder trial. The jury also was not permitted to view a videotape of Ellard's statements to police when she was questioned shortly after Reena was found dead. The damaging footage shows Ellard, then 15, flip flopping her story several times and by many accounts left her looking like a cold-hearted killer. "We had to obtain the information as untainted as possible as quickly as we could. That went a long way to the success of the file because of the credibility it created in what the kids had to say. The truth came out fairly quickly," said Staff Sergeant Doug Oakley after the guilty verdict of Ellard. "Because young people don't have the same level of maturity and responsibility to society that comes with maturity. So you are dealing with people that their peers are more important than a lot of aspects of their lives that we would consider valuable ... It creates a significant problem for us because their allegiances are to each other as opposed to society. That's a problem," noted Oakley. The allegiance shown by the assailants during the trial is one thing that Reena's mother was expecting. "It didn't surprise me because this crime would not have happened if their allegiance to each other was not present. I think they had no choice but to stick together once it all came out." When sentencing Ellard, Justice Nancy Morrison spoke of the support Kelly Ellard had from her family, of her love for animals and the 29 letters written in defense of Ellard's character. But some of those who observed the trial from beginning to end argued that Morrison ought to have demonstrated a similar empathy for the victim. "It is interesting to see that the judge could humanize Ellard that way but didn't do that for Reena Virk. She wasn't presented in the same way, as a young woman who had a life, " said Yasmin Jiwani from the FREDA Centre for research on violence against women and children. Jiwani, who monitored the Ellard trial, added that as a researcher it was interesting to note the affinity between the judge and Ellard. "What would be interesting is to see what would have happened if the tables were turned and it was Reena Virk that had killed Kelly Ellard? Would it be five years and then eligible for parole? Would the judge have been able to relate to Reena in the same way she related to Kelly Ellard?" Jiwani asked. For Reena's mother, Suman Virk, Ellard's sentence was a final blow in an extremely emotionally exhausting year. "I don't think it is a strong enough deterrent for the kids out there looking at the trial. Kids don't understand that Kelly was younger than Warren. Warren got seven years and Kelly got five. But it was Kelly that drowned Reena," Suman said after the sentence was read. -----Civil action The Virks intend to push the issue further in civil court. "Yes, we are prolonging our own emotional stress but we feel it is necessary," Suman told the News. "We want to do this and feel it is worth whatever we go through to make these people accountable and have the young people understand that there are other ramifications for their actions rather than just fear of a criminal sentence." The Ministry of Children and Families removed Reena from the Virk family home in April 1997 after she accused her father of sexually assaulting her. The charges against Manjit Virk were dropped after Reena recanted. By physically removing their daughter, the Virks maintain it was impossible for them to aid her. "(The ministry) did not act in the best interest of Reena. There was not a proper investigation into the allegations she made, which were totally bogus," argued Suman. The Virks were not aware that Reena was being bullied at school and Suman charges that her daughter was not properly protected by school staff and others involved in her life. "In the case of Kelly, different teachers and councillors at school knew she had violent tendencies, but nobody did anything to help her. In the case of Reena, she was being bullied but nobody let us know. The authorities should have let us know," says Suman, who insists that Reena's foster parents and the Ministry of Children and Families should have known about the bullying. Suman says the case is proceeding. "Our lawyer is hearing from other lawyers and negotiations are starting, but things are slow," she said. The first thing Reena's mother would like people to remember from the horrific ordeal she has gone through is "how unnecessary this crime was. I don't know really if anything can be learned except that people can come to terms with the fact that youth violence is out there. Racial prejudice is out there. Intolerance of people and their differences is something that needs to be acknowledged and stamped out." Through it all, there is one face many in the region have not forgotten. Reena's smile has graced the front page of newspapers across the country for the past three years. The photograph was captured at a time when a kind smile was possible, before an ostracized teenager accepted an invitation to a "party " by one of her peers and never returned home. Although her image remains etched in memories there has been little revealed about the gentle character of the one who was destroyed. When asked, what would you most like people to remember about your daughter? Suman Virk replied, "Her loving and generous spirit."