BSS STUDENTS GET "CRANKED" ABOUT METH

"With every breath I am smoking crystal meth' - was the frenzied
refrain spewing from the mouth of Stan, a.k.a. "definition". The
actor twisted and turned on the set while the sound of hip-hop music
was played recently at Barriere Secondary School.

The sounds, the lighting and back drop - all created a hard hitting
insight into the rising epidemic of crystal meth use by young people today.

Green Thumb Theatre presented the play 'Cranked' in Barriere,
primarily for students but any interested people were also welcome to attend.

This is a play created by Playwright Michael P. Northey. Using the
spoken word and hip-hop, the producers present a dramatic
exploration of addiction and today's drug culture.

The play has only one actor, Kyle Cameron as Stan. His compelling
performance is accentuated by DJ/Sound, performed by Kyprios &
Stylust, and presented by Joel Etkin, a member of the troop.

Stan is a horror film buff and was a rising freestyle D.J. when it
all exploded into meth addiction.

In the performance he has locked himself into his mom's basement as
he prepares for an upcoming freestyle competition without the
crystal meth habit that dominated his life previously; he is
fighting to claw his way back to a normal existence.

The sound of the music, the shifting light from burning amber to
near darkness; the anguish in Stan's voice and his agonized moves
mesmerised the teen audience and was reflected on their faces.

'Crank' is a form of meth that is a non-crystalline powder prepared
for blowing and breathing-in or injection. It is highly addictive,
cheaper than other drugs and only a small amount needs to be used in
order to produce a long, intense high. Meth also damages areas of
the brain that control learning, memory, and movement - bluntly
stated, crystal meth causes irreparable brain damage.

When asked "do you believe that watching the play has stopped teens
from using meth?" Kyle (Stan) said, "I don't know, what I can hope
for is that it makes them think. To weigh the consequences of using
. that is all."

The group of four, Kyle Cameron, Joel Etkin DJ/sound, and Elizabeth
Steele stage manager, will perform 'Cranked' more than 100 times all
over BC during the next several weeks.

During a short question period one student asked Kyle, "Did you ever
try meth."

The actor quickly answered, "If I had done so, I would not be here
today with you."