Pubdate: Tue, 12 May 2015
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The London Free Press
Contact: http://www.lfpress.com/letters
Website: http://www.lfpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243
Author: Jennifer O'Brien
Page: A1

ICE STORM

METH Addiction, availability and difficult withdrawal symptoms add to
problems

Explosive growth in the use of the street drug crystal methamphetamine
is causing havoc in London, with those who work with addicts saying
the city isn't equipped to deal with the fallout.

Easily produced, cheap to buy and easy to find, the drug has become
such a problem that street outreach workers, police and public health
providers all say a higher-level community response is needed.

Just three years ago, only 3% of the people seeking help from the only
drug withdrawal management centre in the city were fighting the demons
of the crystaline drug that sells for about $10 a hit on the street.

Now, nearly 40% turning up for that help, at the Salvation Army's
Centre of Hope, are on crystal meth.

The impact is straining the ability of London shelters and treatment
centres to help, said Nancy Powers, executive director of the Centre
of Hope. What's needed, she says, is a more co-ordinated approach.

"We had several meetings last week . . . with the Addiction and Mental
Health network, and everyone is going, `We need to come up with a
plan,' " she said. When people high on crystal meth come into the
centre for help, Powers said staff often can't provide it. "They are
high, they are aggressive, loud, paranoid," she said. The high can run
for days, followed by severe depression that also can last days. The
problem is, neither the centre nor any other service is equipped to
deal with people coming off crystal meth highs, said Carole Lambkin,
who runs the withdrawal management centre.

And the fallout, she said, ripples out - to police, health-care
providers and street outreach workers.

"They (crystal meth addicts) are unable to rationalize and they are so
unreasonable with staff and other clients," said Lambkin. "Every noise
scares them. They think everyone there is out to get them and they are
bouncing off the walls."

Often cut with unknown or hazardous chemicals, crystal meth - also
known on the street as ice or glass - can easily be made in
clandestine labs, and can be snorted, smoked or injected with a
needle. High on the stimulant, people often experience stroke-like
symptoms and what's known as crystal meth-induced psychosis.

"In their psychosis they become fearful - they need to be safe, so
they need to withdraw," said Lambkin. "But a lot of times, they become
uncontrollable. We have to have them removed." They call police, which
all agree isn't the right response for someone in crisis with drug
side effects.

"We only have one option here: Arrest them and take them to cells,"
said London Police Supt. Bill Chantler, the department's go-between
for several agencies that work with addicts and those dealing with
mental illness and homelessness. "If the person is committing a
criminal offence . . . we can take some action, but that's not going
to solve the root cause." "The root cause problem is they are addicted
to crystal meth and the deeper root cause is the crystal meth out in
the street," he said.

Chantler said police have zeroed in on crystal meth "as a significant
issue," noting police targeted crystal meth dealers for the first time
in a recent drug bust. "It's a major problem out there."

Recently, the talk has turned to a need in London for a "wraparound
response," said Linda Sibley of Addiction Services Thames Valley.

That could include some system of medical intervention and a place
where addicts can withdraw safely.

"I'm seeing a doubling (of crystal meth users who come in for help),"
said Sibley. "There's no question, there's something happening in the
community," she said, noting it's unfolded over the last two years.
Crystal meth gained a London foothold after Oxycontin opiod pills,
another drug popular on the streets, were taken off the market in
2012, outreach workers say. Back then, studies showed London had
Ontario's highest per-capita opioid use and overdoses were off the
charts.

With Oxy no longer easily available, addicts turned to cheaper,
easy-to-get crystal meth, outreach workers say. Unlike opioids, which
are depressants that slow down the body, including breathing, crystal
meth is a stimulant. It alters the brain's neurotransmitters, causing
a euphoric feeling. It also packs serious side-effects, including
anxiety, paranoia, seizures and strokelike symptoms.

Still, users say that when Oxy became tough to get, they turned to
crystal meth because it's cheap and comes without the pill sickness
the opiods pack.

Sonja Burke of the Regional HIV/ AIDS Connection puts the two in
contrast. "As you come off of an opioid, the sickness caused by the
withdrawl is horrible. You feel like the worst flu ever. It's like
your muscles are ripped off your skin," she said. "Crystal stops that
and makes you feel productive. But when you start coming down, the
depression is the worst depression you could ever imagine . . . and
they (drug users) go back." Powers said crystal meth is becoming a new
go-to street drug for many, replacing alcohol, but its attraction
extends beyond the homeless and others on the street. "We get people
from the suburbs," she said.

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[sidebar]

ABOUT CRYSTAL METH

Short for crystal methamphetamine White, crystaline drug; easily made
Cheap to buy, $10 a hit on the street Can be snorted, smoked or
injected A stimulant, causes a euphoric rush

- --- --- ---

A SNAPSHOT

One month at the Centre of Hope's drug withdrawl centre in London. A
breakdown of April's 116 clients:

3%: Used crack cocaine

8%: Benzodiazopene

35%: Crystal meth

21%: Opiates

60%: Alcohol

(Some using more than one drug)

- --- --- ---

WHAT THEY SAID

Every noise scares (crystal meth addicts). They think everyone there
is out to get them and they are bouncing off the walls.

Carole Lambkin of the Centre of Hope's withdrawl management
centre

There's no question, there's something happening in the
community.

Linda Sibley, of Addiction Services Thames Valley

If the person is committing a criminal offence, we can take some
action, but that's not going to solve the root cause.

London police Supt. Bill Chantler
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt