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." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom