LOW INCIDENCE OF CRYSTAL METH IN LAKE COUNTRY

Heroin, cocaine, crack... these are all commonly known, highly
addictive drugs that can quickly turn a person's life into a downward
spiral through repeated use. Now, methamphetamine ("crystal meth" or
"meth" for short), is causing renewed concern as it gains momentum in
certain communities across Canada. It has enforcement agencies,
social services, drug and alcohol control workers and other concerned
citizens worried.

Before coming to the Lake Country detachment, RCMP Sgt. Reg Burgess
was a member of the Central Okanagan Crystal Meth Task Force and has
seen the havoc meth can wreak. "It is such an ugly drug, we don't
want it here at all," he says.

Fortunately, this seems to be the case for Lake Country - so far.

Since transferring to Lake Country several months ago, Burgess says
his officers have mainly encountered the drug on people passing
through town on the highway and he is aware of only one or two cases
involving crystal meth locally in the past six months. Even in
Kelowna, he says there were only a handful of reported cases.

"It is here, but it hasn't been a problem like it has in communities
like Maple Ridge," he explains. While it is still the fourth or fifth
"drug of choice", he says instances of meth abuse in that community
have ballooned in recent years.

Crystal meth is a difficult drug for the RCMP to enforce because
users require such a small amount to get high and it is therefore
carry very little on their person. "In the city, crystal meth is a
tough one to pick off," says Burgess.

He adds that, even amongst hardcore drug users, there is such a
stigma attached to crystal meth that users won't admit they're using
it. Simply put, it is the most notorious drug for addicting users on
the first attempt and, therefore, can permanently change somebody's
life for the worse in a single dose.

Not helping matters is the fact that it is a cheap drug to produce
from easily obtainable ingredients - with readily available recipes
on the Internet - and is therefore affordable for younger crowds.

Since taking over as Principal of GESS last year, Des Sjoquist says
there has been "less than a handful" of students involved in crystal
meth, none of who are still in school.

"It seems to be cleaning itself up maybe through awareness," he
suggests. "We want to make sure our kids are aware of it and that
they stay away from it."

"We want to dispel the myth that it's an easy drug or a cool thing to
do. It's a one-time thing that can have life-long effects."

The main drug problem that Sjoquist encounters at GESS is marijuana,
which, although considerably less harmful than meth, he says has no
place at the school.

For anybody wanting to fully realize the physical damage crystal meth
can cause, Burgess suggests they look up the "Faces of Meth" campaign
on the Internet, which displays "before and after" photos of meth
users. The facial transformations, some of which occur over periods
of only several months, are truly disturbing and will hopefully act
as a deterrent for would-be users.