CRYSTAL METH A CONCERN

If you have a son or daughter attending South Huron, you may be aware
of the community forum that we have scheduled for this Thursday night
(Nov. 2), starting at 7:00 in the school library. The topic for this
forum is one that should be of major interest and concern to all
parents, and everyone in the community for that matter - crystal
meth, perhaps the most dangerous illegal drug on the streets of Ontario.

Unfortunately, the speaker we have lined up for the presentation,
Jeff Walraven of the Ontario Provincial Police, was involved in a
serious car accident last week and will not be able to make the
presentation. We have asked the Huron Detachment of the OPP if an
alternate speaker will be able to attend, but as of press time, we do
not have confirmation on this. If no presenter is available, we will
have to re-schedule the forum and will announce this to the students
as soon as we know. Please feel free to call the school for an update
on the status of the forum.

In the meantime, I thought I would share with you some information on
crystal meth to explain why this is such a crucial issue for all of
us. The information that follows is from the web-sites of CBC News
and The Fifth Estate.

The full name of crystal meth is "methamphetamine hydrochloride" but
it is known on the street as "ice, crystal, glass, or tina," and
probably several other names as well. It has been a serious problem
for several years now in Western Canada, particularly Alberta and
B.C., and in the Mid-west of the U.S.; in the last couple of years it
has made its way eastward. In fact, Perth County has become notorious
as perhaps the leading source of crystal meth in Canada, and just
over a year ago a number of individuals were charged with trafficking
in crystal meth and cocaine right here in Huron County.

There are several reasons why we should be very concerned about the
presence of this drug in our community and in our schools. First off,
it is highly addictive: some people become hooked after their first
experience with it. Secondly, it is very cheap to produce and this
makes it affordable to our young people. An investment of $150 can
produce $10, 000 worth of the drug, making it very lucrative for the
dealers who prey on our children. It is produced from chemicals that
are readily available in our communities and it can be produced in a
relatively short period of time.

Crystal meth is in the "speed" family and produces a rush of energy
and euphoria, producing a high that can last a long time. However, it
can also cause irritability, insomnia, hallucinations, anxiety,
paranoia, and increased aggression. It increases the user's heart
rate and blood pressure, which can cause cardiovascular damage,
strokes, brain damage, and even death.

In addition to its addictiveness and damaging effects, crystal meth
is also verydangerous to produce, often causing explosions, fires,
and severe chemical burns to its producers.

Obviously, we should be very concerned about the growing presence of
this drug in our communities. Two years ago the Ontario Student Drug
Use Survey suggested that two per cent of Ontario students were using
this drug and the percentage has certainly grown since then. At the
risk of sounding alarmist, I would suggest that every parent should
be concerned about this drug and I would encourage everyone to become
more informed about this menace. The information I have provided here
barely scratches the surface of this topic and there is much more we
need to learn about crystal meth.

If we are unable to hold our community forum this week, we will
certainly re-schedule it and I will announce the new date as soon as I can.