Pubdate: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 Source: Journal Argus (CN ON) Copyright: 2005 Journal Argus Contact: http://www.stmarys.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2197 Author: Maggie Whitcroft Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) CITY NEWSPAPER EYES PERTH DRUG PROBLEM 'Crystal Meth' Increasingly A Drug Of Choice For Youth Perth County made front page news in the Toronto Star on Saturday, June 18 with mention of St. Marys in a story about crystal methamphetamine becoming a big problem. The article describes how "crystal meth" labs have become very prevalent in Perth County and the hardships many young people have endured because of their addiction to the drug. "Through our investigations we certainly do know there are meth labs out there and people making methamphetamine and I think over the last two years we've had 12 or 13 meth labs that we have come across in our area," Constable Glen Childerley, Sebringville OPP Media Relations Officer told the Journal Argus. Catharine Hardman, Director of Choices for Change in Stratford, said, "meth is certainly becoming a large issue in our area. We've seen a significant increase in the last five years and now in the last 2-3 years. "The problem is growing and people need to be aware that it's not a big city issue. It impacts on our community. It's easy to put our head in the sand and not deal with it." Meth is considered a dangerous drug which is highly addictive. It's also cheap, and it gets you high for a long time -- longer than some other types of drugs. All of this contributes to making it a drug of choice for youth. "The chemicals that go into making meth affect behaviour and that comes out as meth psychosis. That adds to the dangers of it," said Hardman, who make regular visits to St. Marys DCVI for counselling services as a satellite service of Choices for Change. "At DCVI there is certainly an increase in use with the youth. A lot of young people are getting into the chemicals at an earlier age." Meth, a more pure and potent form of speed, is popular with teens and young people in their early to mid 20s. The drug is also called ice, jib, glass or tina on the street. Perth County is ideal for building and operating meth labs, due to the close proximity to farms making it easy to obtain the fertilizer, anhydrous ammonia, an ingredient in cooking crystal meth. The drug's other ingredients -- including some found in across-the-counter cold medicines and some taken from batteries --are also widely available. St. Marys mayor Tony Winter, a member of the town's Police Services Board, was made more aware of the drug recently when it was addressed during a meeting of Ontario municipal leaders. "The drug is dangerous on two levels: one out of four meth labs explode, and secondly it is dangerous to the individuals using it," Winter told the Journal Argus. "About a year ago the police services board was invited to a district convention and I attended a workshop on meth labs in Perth County." According to Mayor Winter, "it's certainly something we'll have to discuss." He says he will do that "on Wednesday morning at the Police Services Board meeting. Certainly (the Toronto Star article) is not good publicity for the town but we hope that youth would stay away from the material. "Any small town is prey to that type of material." Merley Wheaton recently won an award from the school board for his work as project facilitator at DCVI for the "It Takes a Village" project. He commented that, "ultimately, our community has to decide if drug use is acceptable. Are these drug issues part of our community? "I think that is really the question we have to answer. There are not a lot of resources present to help students who want to change their addictive habits." Help is available for anyone trying to break free from an addictive habit or for anyone looking for support that is living with someone with an addiction. Choices for Change offers support for alcohol, drug and gambling addiction and is funded through the Ministry of Health so there are no fees involved in going for treatment. Their youth program operates satellite offices in all of the Perth County secondary schools every week, as well as in their main office in downtown Stratford. They provide free, confidential counselling to anyone concerned. For more information call Choices for Change at 271-6730 or 1-800-218-0077. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin