NEW DRUGS HIT TSAWWASSEN

The number of youths turning to two dangerously addictive drugs, new
to the area, has increased sharply in Tsawwassen over the last few
months. Police have received tips identifying at least two local
adults as suppliers and further supplies are coming in over the Internet.

The South Delta Youth Resource Centre in Winskill Park, which counsels
youth and can refer them for addiction help, is having to deal with up
to 50 young people on a busy night. Most are aged between 15 and 18
and some simply never return after a few visits.

The latest drugs making inroads are crystal meths (crystal
methamphetamine) and GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate), also becoming known
as an alternative "date rape" drug.

Pamela Profitt, coordinator at the centre, says the number of young
users have increased sharply during the last three to four months. "In
the past, around 80 per cent or two thirds of people coming into the
centre had problems with pot/marajuana or alcohol. Then the number on
these two drugs began to rise. It started with about five going up to
ten and some were not returning after a weekend binge. We began to see
loss of weight and changes in personality and we now see around 20 to
30 youths a day and up to 50 on a busy night," she said.

"Most of the young people are experimenting because these drugs are
new to the area and they want to try them out, but these are serious,
dangerous drugs and they are really seriously impairing the way that
youth are living in Tsawwassen," she added.

Profitt, who is also youth projects coordinator with Delta Youth
Services, said staff at the centre have seen evidence of crystal meths
being physically addictive and causing severe weight loss and deep
depression, while GHB (although not physically addictive) causes
psychological dependence and damage manifested through symptoms such
as paranoia and mood swings.

Although the centre serves both Ladner and Tsawwassen, it was
Tsawwasswen that Profitt targeted for action in facing up to the
problem. "Tsawwassen is a unique community in that it prefers to
pretend this is not happening," she said. "It's a hard community to
penetrate and make permanent change, to get the community to mobilize
enough to say, 'This is a problem and we can change this.' And it is a
big problem - we're talking about 20 to 30 youth coming in every day.
Even if it was one or two on these drugs, it should be dealt with."

Profitt said one boy, who had stacked up on drugs ordered over the
Internet, visited the centre in a seriously psychotic, paranoid state
and had to be admitted to a psychiatric ward.

While some visit the centre because they can no longer cope with
addiction, others come because they are concerned about their friends
who have started taking the drugs.

"It impacts their lives too. Another boy kept coming in about a
friend; he just couldn't talk about anything else except the effects
of these drugs," said Profitt.

Delta police are aware of two adults who have been supplying drugs
from their premises in Tsawwassen. Profitt said GHB, which is sold as
a nutritional, health aid over the Internet, caused especial concern
because it is not strictly illegal and is so new to the area that
police are not always yet familiar with its effects.

Delta police were unavailable for comment at the time of going to
press.