INFO SESSION DISCUSSES USE, DANGERS OF METH

Former police officer Rick Watson was in Weyburn on Thursday to talk
about how to identify clandestine labs and users of crystal meth.

Watson is a 31-year police veteran, who began with the RCMP and
retired as a detective sergeant from the Regina Police Service. His
presentation focused on educating the public about what meth labs are
and who uses the drug.

"The more you know about the stuff, the more you know how to handle
it," Watson said.

Watson began the session by talking about what methamphetamine is.
Meth was invented in 1919 and, during World War II, 72 million doses
of the drug were issued to both allied and Nazi soldiers.

He added that meth is the strongest stimulant known to man. One of
the major problems with cracking down on meth is the cost. Between
$600-800 billion has been spent on health and law enforcement.

Watson also identified three types of Methamphetamine and their
street names. Methamphetamines are also known as "speed", "crank",
and "meth." Methamphetamine Hydrochloride is known as "ice" and
N-Methcathinon is known as "bathtub speed" because it was first made
in a bathtub.

The drug is highly addictive, according to Watson, with 80 per cent
of users becoming addicted after their first use. If it is used a
second time, it is certain that the user will become addicted.

The methods of taking meth include smoking, injection intramuscularly
or intravenously, injection sublingually, inhalation, or by being
snorted or eaten.

As a strong stimulant, meth gives off a incredible "rush" especially
after its first use.

"It has been described as the best high you have ever had in your
life," said Watson.

After the first "rush", the drug usually doesn't have the same effect
on the user. Watson added that problems occur after that first high
because the user wants to recreate "that first-time rush." These
highs last longer than any other drug, even cocaine.

Watson gave a couple of examples of how to identify users. They will
lose weight rapidly because of malnutrition and become delusional,
psychotic, paranoid, hyper-vigilant, moody, and hot. Watson has seen
cases where uses became so hot they throw water on the floor and roll
around in it.

He said the paranoia of users can become extreme, as they believe
that everyone and everything is a cop, making surveillance difficult
for police.

"A lot of surveillance is done unmanned," Watson said. "We have to
drop an unmarked car off with a video surveillance camera."

Users also often turn to crime such as stealing money and
prostitution. The most identifiable characteristic, though, is that
meth becomes the most important thing in their lives. Watson said
that listening to wiretaps of drug users often became quite interesting.

"It is like a teenager girl saying 'like' all the time, but they say
'dope' every second word," he said.

Watson talked about a few methods of producing meth as examples of
how easy it is to produce. One method was the Nazi method used by the
Germans in World War II. The main ingredients can be found in
batteries and crop spraying chemicals, which are then stored in the
barbecue tank.

Another method is red phosphorous, which the key ingredient is the
phosphorus off of matches. The last example he gave was the pill
reduction method, where cold medication is the key ingredient.

Watson gave a list of chemicals in meth, some of which can be found
in contact cement cleaner, drain cleaner, road flares, farm
fertilizer and camp fuels.

Some of the possible locations for meth labs include hotels, motels,
rented houses, campers, storage sheds or lockers, remote and/or
abandoned farm houses, garages and automobiles. If users have been
found in a house, it can take a lot of money to clean the building
from all the harmful chemicals and mold.

"If you have a house that has been used twice, even once, it could
take up to $30,000 to clean it up properly," Watson said.

An interesting fact that Watson gave was that four out of every five
labs found were discovered because they have either caught fire or
blown up due to the all the chemicals or altered wiring.

Watson said if you suspect a neighbour is operating a meth lab, some
of the warning signs include criminals coming and going from the
neighbourohod, meth addicts hanging around, and the smell of fumes in the air.

Those who run meth labs are also known for walking away from
mortgages, which costs the banks a lot of money.

"Some do walk away from the house and the bank has to pay to properly
clean the house," Watson said.

Watson put himself in the shoes of a banker in this scenario. One of
the biggest tells is if the customer wants a mortgage for a cheap
house. It is also a difficult situation because the bank needs to
know that the house is livable again before putting it back on the market.

Another scenario was developing indoor allergies because there is a
possibility you could have bought a house used as a lab. The house
will then need to be fixed and/or sold, which can become a problem.

When asked about how many meth labs have been found in Saskatchewan,
those in attendance at the session were shocked to find out that no
one would release the numbers to Watson.

At the presentation, members of the Weyburn City Police and EMT were
present to take in the information. Const. Hughie Gilchrist was
disappointed at the poor turnout for the session.

"I think this presentation was good. I would have like to have seen
more people," Gilchrist said. "This is definitely an issue that
people need to know about before it becomes a more serious matter."

When asked whether meth has made its way into Weyburn, Gilchrist
replied "There has been talk of people using it. We have talked to
two or three people who had said they tried it, but not here."

Also in attendance was Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA Dustin Duncan, who would
like to see more presentations about the drug.

"It is important to hold these sessions," Duncan said. "Education is
important to avoid the problem and I think we need to see more of them."

Duncan also noted that the Sask Party received letters two years ago
from various mayors around the province and the office of Health and
Social Development acknowledging that meth is a major problem.