Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jul 2005 Source: Parksville Qualicum Beach News (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 Parksville Qualicum Beach News Contact: http://www.pqbnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1361 Author: Cst. Beth Blackburn Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) RECOGNIZING CRYSTAL METH USE On a daily basis phone calls come into my office from parents, educators, social workers, probation officers, grandparents, wanting to know how they can help people they care about namely a child, cousin, brother, sister or parent who have found themselves facing issues around drug misuse and abuse. I am Constable Beth Blackburn, RCMP Drug Awareness Co-ordinator for Nanaimo and surrounding area. In the next few months I will be writing a weekly column to bring some of these drug awareness issues to a broader audience. My goal is to give some valuable information that the community can use to stay safe and healthy by reducing substance abuse. Crystal meth is a form of methamphetamine and a powerful stimulant drug. The term 'crystal' refers to the drug's appearance, which usually looks like clear shards of glass that are then crushed. The form of methamphetamine used today can be crushed, heated and smoked, having a more potent effect on the brain. Crystal meth use in British Columbia A 2002 study comparing high school and vulnerable youth (average age 17) in Victoria and Vancouver found that: 18.7 per cent - had tried crystal meth 14.5 years - average age of first usage Preliminary data from a 2003 survey of youth in Vancouver and Victoria comparing high-school youth and vulnerable youth, show that overall: 70 per cent of street-involved Vancouver youth have used crystal meth 10 per cent of Victoria high-school youth have tried it 19 per cent of lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered youth have used it 19 per cent of Aboriginal youth have used it 43 per cent of youth attending the Victoria Youth Empowerment drop-in reported using. Youth detox in Victoria saw a yearly doubling of admissions for crystal meth from 2001 to 2003 and continue to see an increase, with 67 per cent of admissions for meth detox. Crystal meth is a powerful stimulant which can be injected, snorted, smoked or swallowed. Crystal meth stimulates the body's adrenalin system, raising body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. Immediate dangers of intoxication with crystal meth may include heart attack, stroke, seizures and even death. Signs of use include dilated pupils, sweating and flushed skin, dry mouth, tremors, increased energy or hyperactivity General effects are elevated heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate, decreased appetite, alertness, aggression, paranoia, depression and irritability. High doses could lead to: hallucinations and delusions Long-term effects include psychological dependency, malnutrition, skin abscesses, mood disturbances and psychosis; kidney and other tissue damage, cardiac and neurological damage including irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, inflammation of the heart lining and stroke producing damage to small blood vessels in the brain. Web resources for more information on crystal meth: www.ccsa.ca/ccendu www.streetdrugs.org www.lifeormeth.org. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom