COUNCIL ON DRUG ABUSE GIVE STUDENTS THE FACTS ABOUT METH

The Crystal Meth Explosion Reached The Classrooms Of Goderich District
Collegiate Institute Wednesday

The crystal meth explosion reached the classrooms of Goderich District
Collegiate Institute Wednesday, with a presentation by the Council on
Drug Abuse.

Heather Hodgson Schleich delivered the presentation, bringing years of
experience with her, both as a police officer and as an educator.

To begin with, she outlined the basic functioning of the brain, the
transmission of information and the effects various drugs have on it.

Once the focus shifted to meth, things got much darker.

Some of the more startling revelations in her talk
included:

* One out of every five acute care days in Ontario hospitals is due
to drug abuse.

* 50 per cent of first-time users are at risk of addiction, rising
to 90 per cent with the second use.

* For every one pound of meth produced, it leaves behind seven
pounds of toxic waste.

* Huron, Perth and Bruce counties have some of the highest
production rates of the drug in the province.

* The chemicals used to create meth are highly caustic and can
literally burn the skin right off a person.

The latter point was illustrated by photos of people (including
infants) who were seriously harmed from coming into contact with the
chemicals.

Injuries also stemmed from people high on the drug who dug into their
own skin to get rid of the sensations of insects crawling - an effect
called formication.

She said the spike in both the production and use of the drug is due
to the cost-effectiveness and availability of its ingredients, as well
as the ability to make the drug virtually anywhere.

A three hour turn around time for cooking the drug also makes it a
more appealing choice for both small operators and organized crime.

In addition to addiction and personal injury, Hodgson Schleich also
touched on the environmental risks involved with crystal meth.
Producers have been known to dump their toxic waste down the drain, in
farmers' fields or even in construction sites or parks.

House fires and explosions have also been credited to drug makers
inappropriately handling volatile chemicals.

Hodgson Schleich does talks across the province to students in both
elementary and high schools. She said children as young as Grade 3
have working knowledge of cocaine, marijuana and other drugs.

"You can generally tell if it's street knowledge or book knowledge,"
she said, adding that street knowledge is more dangerous because it
means that child has had a "level of exposure."

She also said there are generally three types of students who she
speaks to: Those who never will use drugs, those who already do and
those who are fence sitters.

"I am here to reinforce the never wills, educate and prevent the fence
sitters and maybe reach the ones who already do," she said. "But it's
hard."

One of the difficulties about getting students to talk about their
concerns is the fear of asking questions, noting high school students
are often more reserved than their elementary counterparts.

However, Hodgson Schleich added if she can make a difference for just
one student with her presentation, she did her job.

For more information on the programs offered by the Council on Drug
Abuse, go to www.drugabuse.ca.