Pubdate: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 Source: Weyburn Review (CN SN) Copyright: 2006 Weyburn Review Ltd. Contact: http://www.weyburnreview.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2157 Author: Shawn Slaght, Weyburn Review INFO SESSION DISCUSSES USE, DANGERS OF METH Former police officer Rick Watson was in Weyburn on Thursday to talk about how to identify clandestine labs and users of crystal meth. Watson is a 31-year police veteran, who began with the RCMP and retired as a detective sergeant from the Regina Police Service. His presentation focused on educating the public about what meth labs are and who uses the drug. "The more you know about the stuff, the more you know how to handle it," Watson said. Watson began the session by talking about what methamphetamine is. Meth was invented in 1919 and, during World War II, 72 million doses of the drug were issued to both allied and Nazi soldiers. He added that meth is the strongest stimulant known to man. One of the major problems with cracking down on meth is the cost. Between $600-800 billion has been spent on health and law enforcement. Watson also identified three types of Methamphetamine and their street names. Methamphetamines are also known as "speed", "crank", and "meth." Methamphetamine Hydrochloride is known as "ice" and N-Methcathinon is known as "bathtub speed" because it was first made in a bathtub. The drug is highly addictive, according to Watson, with 80 per cent of users becoming addicted after their first use. If it is used a second time, it is certain that the user will become addicted. The methods of taking meth include smoking, injection intramuscularly or intravenously, injection sublingually, inhalation, or by being snorted or eaten. As a strong stimulant, meth gives off a incredible "rush" especially after its first use. "It has been described as the best high you have ever had in your life," said Watson. After the first "rush", the drug usually doesn't have the same effect on the user. Watson added that problems occur after that first high because the user wants to recreate "that first-time rush." These highs last longer than any other drug, even cocaine. Watson gave a couple of examples of how to identify users. They will lose weight rapidly because of malnutrition and become delusional, psychotic, paranoid, hyper-vigilant, moody, and hot. Watson has seen cases where uses became so hot they throw water on the floor and roll around in it. He said the paranoia of users can become extreme, as they believe that everyone and everything is a cop, making surveillance difficult for police. "A lot of surveillance is done unmanned," Watson said. "We have to drop an unmarked car off with a video surveillance camera." Users also often turn to crime such as stealing money and prostitution. The most identifiable characteristic, though, is that meth becomes the most important thing in their lives. Watson said that listening to wiretaps of drug users often became quite interesting. "It is like a teenager girl saying 'like' all the time, but they say 'dope' every second word," he said. Watson talked about a few methods of producing meth as examples of how easy it is to produce. One method was the Nazi method used by the Germans in World War II. The main ingredients can be found in batteries and crop spraying chemicals, which are then stored in the barbecue tank. Another method is red phosphorous, which the key ingredient is the phosphorus off of matches. The last example he gave was the pill reduction method, where cold medication is the key ingredient. Watson gave a list of chemicals in meth, some of which can be found in contact cement cleaner, drain cleaner, road flares, farm fertilizer and camp fuels. Some of the possible locations for meth labs include hotels, motels, rented houses, campers, storage sheds or lockers, remote and/or abandoned farm houses, garages and automobiles. If users have been found in a house, it can take a lot of money to clean the building from all the harmful chemicals and mold. "If you have a house that has been used twice, even once, it could take up to $30,000 to clean it up properly," Watson said. An interesting fact that Watson gave was that four out of every five labs found were discovered because they have either caught fire or blown up due to the all the chemicals or altered wiring. Watson said if you suspect a neighbour is operating a meth lab, some of the warning signs include criminals coming and going from the neighbourohod, meth addicts hanging around, and the smell of fumes in the air. Those who run meth labs are also known for walking away from mortgages, which costs the banks a lot of money. "Some do walk away from the house and the bank has to pay to properly clean the house," Watson said. Watson put himself in the shoes of a banker in this scenario. One of the biggest tells is if the customer wants a mortgage for a cheap house. It is also a difficult situation because the bank needs to know that the house is livable again before putting it back on the market. Another scenario was developing indoor allergies because there is a possibility you could have bought a house used as a lab. The house will then need to be fixed and/or sold, which can become a problem. When asked about how many meth labs have been found in Saskatchewan, those in attendance at the session were shocked to find out that no one would release the numbers to Watson. At the presentation, members of the Weyburn City Police and EMT were present to take in the information. Const. Hughie Gilchrist was disappointed at the poor turnout for the session. "I think this presentation was good. I would have like to have seen more people," Gilchrist said. "This is definitely an issue that people need to know about before it becomes a more serious matter." When asked whether meth has made its way into Weyburn, Gilchrist replied "There has been talk of people using it. We have talked to two or three people who had said they tried it, but not here." Also in attendance was Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA Dustin Duncan, who would like to see more presentations about the drug. "It is important to hold these sessions," Duncan said. "Education is important to avoid the problem and I think we need to see more of them." Duncan also noted that the Sask Party received letters two years ago from various mayors around the province and the office of Health and Social Development acknowledging that meth is a major problem. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine