Pubdate: Wed, 01 Nov 2006
Source: Lakeshore Advance (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006, Signal-Star Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.lakeshoreadvance.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1349
Author: Jeff Reaburn

CRYSTAL METH A CONCERN

If you have a son or daughter attending South Huron, you may be aware 
of the community forum that we have scheduled for this Thursday night 
(Nov. 2), starting at 7:00 in the school library. The topic for this 
forum is one that should be of major interest and concern to all 
parents, and everyone in the community for that matter - crystal 
meth, perhaps the most dangerous illegal drug on the streets of Ontario.

Unfortunately, the speaker we have lined up for the presentation, 
Jeff Walraven of the Ontario Provincial Police, was involved in a 
serious car accident last week and will not be able to make the 
presentation. We have asked the Huron Detachment of the OPP if an 
alternate speaker will be able to attend, but as of press time, we do 
not have confirmation on this. If no presenter is available, we will 
have to re-schedule the forum and will announce this to the students 
as soon as we know. Please feel free to call the school for an update 
on the status of the forum.

In the meantime, I thought I would share with you some information on 
crystal meth to explain why this is such a crucial issue for all of 
us. The information that follows is from the web-sites of CBC News 
and The Fifth Estate.

The full name of crystal meth is "methamphetamine hydrochloride" but 
it is known on the street as "ice, crystal, glass, or tina," and 
probably several other names as well. It has been a serious problem 
for several years now in Western Canada, particularly Alberta and 
B.C., and in the Mid-west of the U.S.; in the last couple of years it 
has made its way eastward. In fact, Perth County has become notorious 
as perhaps the leading source of crystal meth in Canada, and just 
over a year ago a number of individuals were charged with trafficking 
in crystal meth and cocaine right here in Huron County.

There are several reasons why we should be very concerned about the 
presence of this drug in our community and in our schools. First off, 
it is highly addictive: some people become hooked after their first 
experience with it. Secondly, it is very cheap to produce and this 
makes it affordable to our young people. An investment of $150 can 
produce $10, 000 worth of the drug, making it very lucrative for the 
dealers who prey on our children. It is produced from chemicals that 
are readily available in our communities and it can be produced in a 
relatively short period of time.

Crystal meth is in the "speed" family and produces a rush of energy 
and euphoria, producing a high that can last a long time. However, it 
can also cause irritability, insomnia, hallucinations, anxiety, 
paranoia, and increased aggression. It increases the user's heart 
rate and blood pressure, which can cause cardiovascular damage, 
strokes, brain damage, and even death.

In addition to its addictiveness and damaging effects, crystal meth 
is also verydangerous to produce, often causing explosions, fires, 
and severe chemical burns to its producers.

Obviously, we should be very concerned about the growing presence of 
this drug in our communities. Two years ago the Ontario Student Drug 
Use Survey suggested that two per cent of Ontario students were using 
this drug and the percentage has certainly grown since then. At the 
risk of sounding alarmist, I would suggest that every parent should 
be concerned about this drug and I would encourage everyone to become 
more informed about this menace. The information I have provided here 
barely scratches the surface of this topic and there is much more we 
need to learn about crystal meth.

If we are unable to hold our community forum this week, we will 
certainly re-schedule it and I will announce the new date as soon as I can.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine