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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom