METH CROSSING LINES

INGERSOLL -- Oxford County is looking north to the crystal meth
hotbed of Perth County to deal with the cheap and addictive drug
seeping across county lines.

After at least 13 methamphetamine labs turned up in Perth farmhouses
over the last year, Oxford Community Police are seeing more street
seizures of the drug.

"We had our first trafficking charge in May," said Det. Sgt. Daryl
Longworth of Oxford Community Police.

"Because of our proximity to Perth we're expecting crystal meth to
become more of a problem."

Longworth and other members of the county's drug task force attended
a workshop here yesterday.

Kids as young as 12 are using crystal meth, said Jason Smith,
chairperson of Oxford's drug task force and director of Youth for
Christ Woodstock. "(But) we're not just focused on crystal meth.
We're concerned about all drugs kids are using."

Longworth said OxyContin and crack cocaine are still the major drug
problems in Oxford. Crystal meth is perceived as the drug of choice
for the lowest of the low.

"People come in addicted to crack saying, 'At least I'm not on
crystal meth,' " said Dr. Rosana Pellizzari of the Perth District Health Unit.

Data show it's not as widely used as other drugs, but it's popular
with street youth and homeless people.

More research is needed to develop specialized programs to deal with
crystal meth addicts, Pellizzari said.

"Meth has to be dealt with differently than everything else," she
said, because meth addicts go through longer withdrawal periods.

Little is known about how it affects the brain and body. Pellizzari
said education needs to be addressed because adolescents are using
other drugs first.

Marijuana is being laced with crystal meth and sold to unsuspecting
clients. "Young people are arriving at emerg who thought they only
smoked marijuana," she said.

Instead, they're experiencing a crystal meth-induced paranoia or delusions.

Crystal meth is also dangerous to the community. Explosions gave away
a quarter of the labs in Perth because the ingredients are explosive
and highly toxic.

CRYSTAL METH FACTS

- - It's also known as ice.

- - Ingredients to make it can be bought over the counter.

- - Active ingredient is pseudoephedrine that's found in cold medicine.

- - A small lab can make 110 hits per ounce.

- - One hit costs $5 and lasts up to 24 hours.

- - Usually smoked, the drug releases dopamine, a "feel-good" neurotransmitter.