Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Kamloops Daily News Contact: http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) THE ITCH THAT CAN'T BE SCRATCHED A woman begins scratching her forearm, convinced beyond doubt bugs are crawling below the surface. In short order, she uses her own nails, teeth or some other sharp devices to peel back her skin and gouge the flesh down to the bone in search of the imaginary creatures. Of course, she never finds the bugs. But this is an example of the hallucinations and delusions, paranoia and unprovoked rage that accompany addiction to methamphetamines, or what's better known as crystal meth. Angela Marshall, a drug counsellor from Mission, shared this and many other graphic images of what meth can do to users during an education forum at Thompson Rivers University Thursday evening. "What we're dealing with here is not so much a drug as a poison," she said, while listing the ingredients in meth to the crowd of about 200 people, mainly women, who attended the two-hour session. The drug, which can be smoked, snorted or injected, is willingly being taken by children and young people throughout the province in alarming numbers. There are more obvious and almost immediate side effects such as severe weight loss and pock-marked complexion that accompany meth use. There's depression, anxiety, obsession, anger and other mental instabilities that are common. And on top of all that, there are the long-term health problems and potential for death, Marshall said. But still, young people continue to use it in growing numbers, striving to relive that initial rush or just numbing themselves to life. Most users know the poisons included in meth, but cannot quit the highly addictive substance, she said. To emphasize her point about toxins, she explained that a razor blade used to cut meth will rust within 24 hours of being used. The crowd also heard professor and meth expert Dr. Darryl Plecas talk about the scope of meth use and production in B.C., as well as provincial Solicitor General John Les address what is and should be done to address that problem. Based on questions and feedback from the crowd and comments from the panel, sentencing of meth producers and traffickers remained one of the biggest concerns. "The law doesn't deal effectively with this problem," Les said. "We need the federal government to do some serious revamping of sentencing in this country. They need to know that if they get caught they're out of business for a long, long time." He drew a parallel between those who produce and deal meth to murderers: "It's akin to murder. We need to send them away for good, as far as I'm concerned." Plecas, who studies numerous police drug files and meth studies worldwide said tougher sentences are key to getting the drug in check. "It's an ugly, dangerous and deadly drug and we don't have sentences to reflect that. Until we have that, we shouldn't hold out much hope of anything happening," Plecas said. Kamloops Mayor Terry Lake said arming people with information about meth is the first and biggest step to battling the problem. He commended local initiatives such at the MethKickers treatment program at the Phoenix Centre and the awareness and enforcement programs in the schools for helping this community battle the potential drug pandemic. "It's easy to get a little bit pessimistic about this problem. But categorically, I don't think our community is any worse than any other," Lake said. "If we work together and focus on education, especially in the school system, we'll be able to fight this problem." Hearing more about the existing local initiatives already in place to battle meth use in the city, Les commended Kamloops on its integrated approach to abolishing the drug. "It's a very important issue for us to be concerned about," Les said. "And you should be commended for taking a leadership role." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom