WATCH FOR THE WARNING SIGNS OF DRUG USE

Nobody knows the extent of its severity until they see someone come off it.
And Lloydminster RCMP weren't expecting to see what they saw when they
picked up two men this past April on drug charges.

For seven days while the men were in custody waiting for their court
appearance, the police watched in horror as the young men ripped their flesh
open in a desperate attempt to get the imaginary bugs out of their skin.

They were going through withdrawal from crystal methamphetamine, or "meth."
"It scared the hell out of me - I've never seen anything quite like it,"
said Lloydminster RCMP Cpl. Tom McNulty, who has seen his share of substance
abuse in his 19 years of police service. "Trying to get off it is more
difficult than heroin, we've been told."

Before a crowd of more than 50 people at a parent information night this
past Wednesday at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School, McNulty revealed
the ugly side of meth, a drug "more dangerous than cocaine."

From discussing when meth use was identified as a big problem in
Lloydminster last year, to describing the signs of addiction, McNulty spoke
about a drug that every parent of high school-aged students should know
about.

As background, McNulty said about $20 for one-tenth of a gram, or about one
hit, can get someone started. Three or four of those hits, depending on the
person, is enough to get them addicted - and meth addictions are severe.

Once the kid gets on it, the snowball starts. They'll hit up mom, dad or
friends for money, cash will go missing, and thefts may begin.

In the past year, thefts from vehicles in Lloydminster have skyrocketed -
and almost everyone of those thefts can be connected to drug use, said
McNulty. Thieves often steal CDs from vehicles, which are easy to pawn off
to used CD retailers.

But besides theft, police have also been aware of severe beatings, where
suppliers will make an example out of disobedient sellers. McNulty described
how suppliers will give 28 grams of meth to someone to sell. The seller can
keep one gram, but must return the proceeds of the remaining 27 grams to the
supplier. Frequently, the seller would only return the proceeds of less than
27 grams because he/she used several grams for himself.

"Parents ask, 'Well, how do you know (if your child is doing drugs)?'" said
McNulty, adding the parents must take a good, hard look at their child.

The child will stop hanging out with the same type of friends they had
growing up. Instead of hanging out at home or a friend's house they'll
simply say they're just "going out." McNulty concedes kids who are not on
drugs may do this also, but added there are other signs that will coincide.

When high on meth, people have a false sense of empowerment, or
invincibility. They speak loudly and are extremely outgoing, even if that
doesn't describe their usual character.

They are usually hyper, fidgety, and sometimes get sweaty. In extreme cases,
they may go weeks without rest because they're too afraid or too wired to
fall asleep.

When they begin to come off the drug, they can become impatient and
short-tempered.

Their dry mouth will occasionally trigger foam at the corners of their mouth
and their eyes will be dilated, appear lifeless, and won't react as a person
usually does.

McNulty added other signs of meth use may include kitchen knives that are
tinged or blackened from heating the drug (this can also apply to hash use),
and cigarette papers kicking around (this may also indicate marijuana use).

"Nobody rolls their own tobacco anymore," he said.

But despite the infiltration of crystal meth use and trafficking rings in
the Border City, Lloydminster RCMP were able to dismantle all three of the
known cell groups this year. McNulty said the cell's major players have
either been chased out of town with warrants for their arrest, been
incarcerated, or are dry and off the drug.

But still, the war against drugs goes on in Lloydminster.

"Parents may miss the signals, but if they do see the signals, there's
help," said McNulty. "It's a winnable battle - we can win it."