DRUGS OF ADDICTION EDUCATION SESSION PROVES INFORMATIVE

Dr. Crystal Litwin introduced Cst. Renee Shank and Dr. Jim Cross at
the Drugs of Addiction education session held at Wynyard Ukrainian
Hall on the evening of Wednesday, September 27.

Cst. Shank, an RCMP officer with 28 years of experience concerning
drugs on the street, was the first to speak.

His presentation informed the over 80 people in attendance on Crystal
Methamphetamine. He began by explaining how old Methamphetamines are.
This drug was synthesized in 1887 by German scientists who were
looking to create a drug that could be used to aid various ailments.

Methamphetamines were then used in WWII, and in military all over the
world (because it gives a euphoric, immortal feeling and helps keep
people awake), in the '30s as a decongestant, biker gangs made it,
sold it and used it in the '50s, the Mexican Cartel began producing,
selling and using it in the '90s and it is used as an ingredient in
diet pills. It is known as ephedra in the diet pill industry.

"The million dollar question is; 'How do you persuade people not to
take something that makes them feel good?'" said Cst. Shank.

Shank's hour long presentation covered the history of
Methamphetamines, how Crystal Meth is manufactured, covering both
large labs as well as the ones that most people set up in their
homes, garage, barns and even hotel rooms. Most items can be stored
in a duffel bag or book bag and quickly set out on a counter or table
to create a Crystal Meth lab.

He showed in his power point presentation what the ingredients and
apparatus look like, most of which can be purchased at any super
store as well as any drug store or hardware store. His photos showed
everyone the dirty atmosphere in which the drug is created and taken.

Dr. Jim Cross, an ER doctor, has dealt with many patients suffering
from drug addictions.

He pointed out that Crystal Meth is a highly addictive drug. 85% of
people who try the drug for the first time become addicted.

"In the ER, we use cocaine to stop a nose bleed, marijuana can be
useful for people with Glaucoma, a spray has been created for MS
patients to help alleviate nerve pain, because that is the worst kind
of pain you can have, but I can't find one single good thing to say
about Methamphetamines."

"There are many kinds of Methamphetamines. One is ecstasy, it's a
stimulant that produces hallucinations. It is called the "hug drug",
it makes people very empathetic towards each other.

"Then there is Crystal Meth, a cousin to ecstasy. There is no
redeeming value to this drug. It is a new drug to Saskatchewan. In
2000, there was no sign of Crystal Meth in the province. It a new
drug that started on the West coast, B.C. and California and has been
moving eastward ever since.

The reasons it has become so popular is because it is inexpensive to
make, it can be made locally, the feeling of euphoria can last up to
24 hours and it works almost immediately.

Because Crystal Meth increases blood pressure and metabolism, stroke
and heart attacks are common. Women who are pregnant and take Crystal
Meth risk the chance of their baby being born with cleft lip and/or
heart abnormalities.

The chance of a Crystal Meth user suffering with psychosis increases
after six months of use.

"I 'googled' Crystal Meth and found over four million sites
concerning Crystal Meth and found that there is only 35 medical
journals written about the drug." Not much is known about how to
treat the Crystal Meth problem because it is a fairly new drug.
Doctors haven't dealt with it long enough, although, everyday they
are working towards the goal.

"The provincial and federal governments realize it's a big problem.
It's [new legislative laws] going to help but we just don't know how
much. There is no treatment for this problem."