Pubdate: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 Source: Georgia Straight, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 The Georgia Straight Contact: http://www.straight.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1084 Author: Amy Hartmann Referenced; http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1246/a03.html Note: Headline by MAP Editor IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU CHOOSE TO USE At a barbecue last weekend, five of us found ourselves scorning the biased cover article by Gail Johnson on the "evil" substance crystal meth, whose subtitled role as "a new demon in Vancouver" summarizes the article's lack of journalistic detachment. Four of the five of us, West Coast 20-somethings, have firsthand experience with crystal. Ironically, the veteran--who admits to "more than just occasional weekend usage"--is also the most successful, a top media rep for a big record label. The odd man out is an artist in his late 50s who scoffs at hard-luck Jake of the "tired chestnut eyes" (please)--one of just two users interviewed--who, tellingly, is being prescribed antipsychotic and antidepressant medication by his friendly psychiatrist. Surprisingly (?), he reports hallucinations and "delusional thinking". For the record, none of us has ever had hallucinations on meth, nor any psychotic episodes besides the odd monthly tantrum our boyfriends may have witnessed. Curious, I asked my doctor which substances he'd deem the most ravaging on the human body. His answer? Alcohol and coffee. His clincher comment: "It's all in how you choose to use, or abuse, what you put in your body; even water can be toxic in too-high doses." If meth's the "new demon", Johnson would do well to balance her stance by researching some older demons more likely to finish off her ill-informed generation. Amy Hartmann Victoria - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk