Pubdate: Thu, 03 Nov 2005
Source: Citizen, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 The Citizen
Contact:  http://www.northhuron.on.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2417
Author: Heather Crawford

METH IN LOCAL SCHOOLS

Not just a big city problem, the scary fact is that dangerous drugs 
are here. Frighteningly enough, the highly-addictive drug known as 
crystal meth is said to be circulating around area high schools. 
"There were a number of people arrested [for using or selling crystal 
meth] from Brussels, Seaforth and Clinton," Sr. Const. Don Shropshall 
of the Huron County OPP said. "It's definitely in the area." The drug 
has recently appeared in Perth County and has been spreading through 
the area. Shropshall said the majority of people arrested for using 
or selling the drug have been in their late 20s or early 30s. "Word 
is, it's in our high schools.

They are peddling it to teens," he said. "There were 17 labs found in 
Perth County and there are a couple of labs in Huron," Shropshall 
said. "[Crystal meth is] made up of poisons and can be easily made." 
He said the labs use flammable substances that could easily cause 
fires and release gases in the air that could cause lungs to collapse or death.

The drug causes major side effects to the body such as "weight loss, 
discolouration of the skin, sores, and there's a rapid aging 
process," he said. Alex Berry, supervisor at Huron Addiction Services 
said the centre has seen some clients who use crystal meth. "The 
community usually sees and hears about [use of the drug] before the 
addiction centres do," he said. "We know people who are using 
[crystal meth] but we aren't hearing about it as much as Perth 
County." Crystal meth is a stimulant and Berry said people using it 
will feel awake, alert, hungry, and thirsty. "Long-term use of 
stimulants can often result in people feeling anxious, [experiencing] 
psychosis, and weight loss." Berry said any drug that is injected 
directly into the body or smoked is going to be more addictive than 
something that is ingested by eating or drinking. "Someone could use 
the drug one time and continue to find ways to get it," Shropshall 
said. This addiction then leads to an obvious result of more crime in 
order to support the habit. "Heavy drug use, [we have found] leads to 
break and enters and thefts," he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth