SCARED STRAIGHT AT SPENCER

Students at Spencer middle school were exposed to the harsh realities
of crystal meth last week.

The founder and director of the Crystal Meth Society, Mark McLaughlin
talked candidly about the drug and its affects.

"Meth takes away your capacity to think," McLaughlin
said.

When students were asked if they knew someone who had tried the drug a
surprising number of hands shot into the air. Teachers glanced around,
many with uneasy looks on their faces.

A short film was shown to the students that showed an unidentified
person shooting meth, addicts talking about their struggles and even
footage of an overdose.

Some of the information was too graphic for several Grade 9 students
who left the room during the presentation, some even in tears.

Addicts on the video, titled Death by Jib described addiction to meth
as "losing your soul" or "a little box that you are trapped inside."

One addict wanted the viewers to know that if they ever tried the
highly addictive drug, they would "go crazy first and then you will
die," he said.

Issues with popularity or weight loss are common reasons why young
people often try the drug, McLaughlin said. Others try it for fun, not
knowing the drug can become deathly addictive after just one use.

He displayed such items as lighter fluid, antifreeze, nail polish
remover and rat poison to show students toxic elements used to create
meth.

"If you wouldn't put this stuff in a fish bowl or feed it to a puppy,
why would you let you or your friend do it?" McLaughlin asked.

For more information go to www.crystalmethbc.ca.