Pubdate: Sat, 02 Aug 2003 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Author: Keith Bradford Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) POT OF MENACE Dealers Getting Kids Hooked On Meth By Lacing Marijuana Drug dealers are getting kids hooked on methamphetamine - and helping other young addicts hide their habit - by lacing joints with the highly addictive drug, warn police and concerned youth counsellors. Marilyn Mitchell, manager of youth services for the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), said several kids in rehab programs have told counsellors they became addicted to meth after buying what they thought was pot. "Kids may be buying a joint thinking they are getting just a joint, but it's laced," said Mitchell. "Dealers are hooking kids that way and that's something we need to be concerned about." Edmonton drug cop Pete Cherniawsky said no joints seized by cops have tested positive for methamphetamine, according to Health Canada. But he's convinced it's not an "urban myth," despite similar stories showing up in the U.S. without any supporting evidence. "We've heard stories about cocaine-laced pot before and a lot of times it's some kind of fertilizer, some kind of chemical, or just dealers ripping off the customer with a false claim," said Cherniawsky. "But is pot being laced with meth? Yes, Maybe not to the extent we're hearing about it, but it's happening." Edmonton Police Service detective Darcy Strang said public apathy regarding marijuana means smoking pot soaked in liquid meth doesn't attract the attention of cops, the general public or unsuspecting users. "Today's society is not too concerned with the smoking of pot, so it's easier to get the kids to smoke it in that form," said Strang, who added many kids fear being caught with a meth pipe. "It may also be a way to get kids hooked. Smoke it once or twice and you become addicted." Strang said reports from street contacts leave him in no doubt that mixing is becoming more common in Edmonton. "I believe it's out there," said Strang. "If (police) seize marijuana, we would have to have the presence of mind to test it, instead of just looking at it and thinking it's marijuana. We could be seizing it and not realize that it is soaked with methamphetamine." Strang said the widespread availability of methamphetamine - particularly through local small-scale labs - means it's not too difficult to produce meth-saturated marijuana. "To make it you are going to have to have a meth oil product and then soak the marijuana in it," he said. "It's not something where you are just rolling up." Debby Ritson-Bennett, whose son became hooked on meth at the age of 13, said she's disgusted by the idea of dealers using laced pot to get kids hooked to meth. "I've heard stories about dealers grinding it up into (pot) and it makes me sick," she said. "The older kids sell it - it's everywhere. It's going to kids as young as 11 or 12. If it was any younger, God help us." Mitchell said she's seen an increase in the number of kids hooked on meth but most are 16 or 17. "There are some 15-year-olds and a very odd, minority, who are 14," she said. "But (lacing) is something we need to be concerned about in the future, for sure." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom