CRYSTAL METH ISN'T JUST A BIG CITY PROBLEM

"I don't think there are any hard drugs here," said a local woman, as
Durham Police Chief Vern White held a town hall forum in Cannington
last week.

It's a misconception that many in the area have. While it's widely
known that there's no shortage of marijuana users in the township, we
tend to look at the rising use of cocaine, heroin, and crystal
methamphetamine as "big city" problems.

They aren't.

Though heroin is unlikely, police are well aware of the growing supply
of cocaine both here in Brock and across Durham Region.

And they're undoubtedly uneasy after a fire gutted a meth lab in an
industrial complex in Pickering just a few weeks ago.

The fire caused an estimated $1.5 million in damage to the property
and the subsequent investigation led to the discovery of chemicals
that police determined to be ingredients for meth.

The sheer quantity of chemicals uncovered have led police to dub the
Pickering scene a "super lab" with the potential to create $5 million
worth of meth.

Though there's been a handful of busts for meth across Durham in
recent months, this "super lab" is a truly frightening prospect for
the police and the community as a whole.

Meth is one of the most addictive drugs on the street and can cause
irreversible damage.

It increases both heart rate and blood pressure, which can damage
blood vessels in the brain, which can cause strokes, or an irregular
heart beat, which can cause cardiovascular collapse and death.

Meth can also damage brain cells, causing symptoms similar to
Parkinson's disease and severe depression.

Unfortunately, it's quickly becoming the drug of choice in rural
areas, because it's a "cheap high" and is fairly easy to produce.

It can be created in small labs by mixing a cocktail of about fifteen
chemicals that are readily available in pharmacies and hardware
stores. The recipe is also quite easy to find on the Internet and
police say an investment of about $150 can yield up to $10,000 worth
of the drug.

The manufacturing process, though relatively simple, is also toxic and
dangerous. Each kilogram of crystal meth produces five to seven
kilograms of chemical waste, which is often dumped down the drain or
in the backyard.

Another by-product, toxic gases, often leads to fire or explosions in
the lab, which we saw in Pickering.

It was undoubtedly the biggest meth "bust" the area has seen.

"We haven't seen a lot of crystal meth here yet," Chief White said.

"And to see it now is more than a little disconcerting."

It most certainly is. But we're likely going to see more of it.