POLICE INFORM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT DANGERS OF CRYSTAL
METH

The Medicine Hat Police Service is hoping to educate the community
about crystal methamphedamine and the risks it poses.

Parents who attended a presentation on the Dogs for Drug Free
Schools program at Crescent Heights High School Tuesday night were
also educated about the "equal opportunity destroyer" that an
Edmonton-based statistic says 4.8 per cent of Grade 12 students have
used in their lifetime.

Const. Brian Zens, the school resource officer for Crescent Heights
High School gave a youth-focused presentation designed to help
students get educated about drugs.

"I tell the students that at this point in their life, every
opportunity is open to them," said Zens.

A question is posed to students to help them decide what they want
out of life before they choose to experiment with drugs, he said.
The idea is to show students how drug use can negatively affect
their future, including employment.

Zens told parents about the process from drug use to abuse and then
addiction. He added 80 per cent of people incarcerated or in the
criminal justice system have substance abuse problems.

One of the drugs working its way into communities is crystal meth, a
synthetic control drug that stimulates the body and attacks the
central nervous system.

A list of the chemicals used to make crystal meth were brought up on
the screen and Zens asked those in attendance if they would drink a
mixture of the chemicals for $50,000.

"Of course you wouldn't, but the fact is people are (doing that) and
they are paying for it."

Graphic pictures showed the results of meth use, including a
drug-induced psychosis that lead to suicide. Other images showed the
results of meth labs, including explosions, fires and the toxic
waste leftover from production.

The drug is just being introduced to the community, so some sellers
might spike or lace other drugs such as marijuana with meth to try
get their product on the market, he added. Some sellers build
micro-labs in small, portable containers and will set up in a hotel
overnight. In the morning, they sell what meth they have and then
move on to another city before getting caught.

By informing the community, Zens says we can try to prevent the drug
from reaching our youth.