Pubdate: Tue, 31 Jan 2006
Source: Mountaineer, The (Rocky Mountain House, CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 The Mountaineer Publishing Company, Ltd.
Contact:  http://rmh-mountaineer.awna.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2336
Author: Stu Salkeld
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

OVER 100 GATHER FOR DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM

Over 100 people gathered at Lou Soppit Center January 24 for an 
informative, and sometimes shocking, presentation about the reality 
of Canada's drug culture including the controversial crystal meth.

The event, organized by Rocky RCMP detachment, featured three expert 
speakers who had different perspectives on the drug problem in Alberta.

The first speaker, S/Sgt. Ian Sanderson, is "K" Division RCMP's Drug 
Awareness Coordinator, and has over two decades of police experience.

Sanderson gave a very frank depiction of the history of crystal meth, 
its link to biker gangs, how it's marketed, the approach police are 
taking to the problem and many other topics.

Sanderson stated one of the most important parts of the RCMP's 
approach to crystal meth is public awareness and education. He said 
the RCMP wants to make lots of information about crystal meth 
available, and educate people about how dangerous this drug is.

Sanderson also discussed drug endangered children. He said police and 
many other groups are in favor of laws which make the exposure of 
children to drug culture a form of child abuse.

Sanderson also went into detail about how crystal meth is 
manufactured. He said biker gangs are traditionally linked to 
methamphetamine, but the drug is so easy to make that people have 
been known to set up drug labs themselves.

In fact, he said some crystal meth addicts fall so low, they have to 
start manufacturing it themselves to feed their addiction.

"This is where they will go out and collect (crystal meth 
ingredients) right at their local convenience store," said Sanderson 
to the crowd of about 130 people.

Sanderson also gave a slide show which included some shocking photos 
of experiences police have had with crystal meth south of the border.

The next speaker was Audrey Bjornstad, cofounder of Parents 
Empowering Parents Society, a non-profit registered charity dedicated 
to offering information and support to families dealing with drug 
addicted loved ones.

Bjornstad, who described herself as a suburban mom from Sherwood 
Park, spoke from first-hand experience, as her son Tyler is living 
with drug addiction.

Bjornstad said she embraces the chance to speak with groups about 
crystal meth and other drug addictions because it seems there is a 
stigma attached to addiction and that addiction cuts across all social classes.

"This can happen to anyone," she said. "If you're low income, high 
income, black or white or brown, this happens all across our society."

Bjornstad showed pictures of her son Tyler at birth, and as he grew 
into a young man. She said everything in their home was about as 
normal as anywhere in Alberta. Then in 2003, things started to change 
as Tyler entered high school.

"He hit Grade 10, and we thought he was healthy and happy," said 
Bjornstad. Tyler was caught skipping school and smoking marijuana, 
but with counseling, school intervention and curfews, Bjornstad said 
her family thought the problem had been nipped in the bud. That 
wasn't the case, as Tyler's drug addiction gained momentum at a startling pace.

"At the end of the summer, things really started falling apart," said 
Bjornstad. It wasn't long before Tyler went missing for several days 
and was later found by police living at a crystal meth house in Sherwood Park.

Bjornstad said she and her family were shocked when police told them 
Tyler was a crystal meth addict, and probably had been one for about 
two months. She said her family had noticed changes in Tyler's 
behavior and appearance, but hadn't thought anything of it. "He had 
lost close to 40 pounds," she said, and had become aggressive, 
combative, was stealing from his family members to support his 
addiction and drug dealers were now coming to the Bjornstad's suburban home.

"We had no idea what we were dealing with. From my background in 
medicine, I knew in my heart that more was happening inside his head.

"Even if we got him off this drug, we would never have the same child 
again," said Bjornstad.

Bjornstad said she and her husband knew they couldn't handle Tyler, 
and gave him an ultimatum: kick your habit or get out. He chose to 
leave but even at this point Tyler refused to admit to his parents 
that he was a crystal meth addict.

As Tyler lived on the street, Bjornstad said the family went through 
feelings of shame and guilt for having a meth addict in their family 
and constant fear and worry for Tyler's safety. "I honestly thought 
Tyler would die," she said.

However, after seven months Bjornstad said her son entered treatment 
and spent almost nine months fighting his crystal meth addiction. To 
this day, she said, Tyler is fighting his addiction despite relapsing 
several times on other drugs. "He's now two years clean from meth," 
she said. "We're happy that he is still alive, and that he is trying 
to get his life together.

"It was the most humbling experience in my life to find out what 
addiction is. Once the child is addicted, they are no longer in 
control. They are now a slave to a drug," she said.

After discovering the many pitfalls of helping a family member with 
addiction and how little support is actually out there, Bjornstad and 
several other people founded PEPS in May 2004 to offer information 
and support. She said the group wanted to know if there was a need.

At their very first meeting over 30 people turned up, and PEPS has 
since become a fully registered charity and society. "We are a voice 
for families and addicts," she added.

The third speaker was University of Alberta Dept. of Psychiatry Prof. 
William Tatton, who gave a detailed description of how drugs like 
crystal meth affect the brain.

Rocky RCMP Cpl. Alex Courtorielle, one of the main organizers of the 
event, said he was happy with the event. "I was very pleased," said 
Courtorielle January 25.

Courtorielle noted the group of speakers also spent several hours 
January 24 at Sunchild School. "I really felt the message got across," he said.

Courtorielle said the RCMP got a lot of local help organizing the 
event, and noted the event probably couldn't have been held with 
donations from the Town of Rocky Mountain House, Tim Hortons and Best 
Western Hotel.

He noted the Rocky RCMP detachment realizes drug awareness is a 
community issue, not just a police issue.

"Our goal is to bring further drug awareness to the community," added 
Courtorielle. "I'm hoping we brought that awareness to the community."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom