TEEN RISKS MAY INCLUDE METH USE

Drinking, smoking and having sex might sound like typical teenage
behaviour to some, but according to a new University of Alberta study,
they could be precursors to meth use.

The study, carried out by a team of researchers with the department of
pediatrics at the faculty of medicine and dentistry, found that teens
who have never done drugs but have experimented with other "risky"
behaviours are more likely to use crystal meth, a highly addictive and
relatively cheap drug.

"The take-home message could be there is an experimental side to
adolescence, but (that should) occur in a safer zone," said Dr. Terry
Klassen, a U of A professor who led the study.

The study also found that with teens already doing other drugs, an
unstable family situation was a factor.

Researchers looked at literature on the issue and analyzed studies
that had already been conducted.

In a "low-risk" group where there was no previous drug use, boys were
more likely to try meth than girls. But when they were looking at the
"high-risk" group, which included kids with a history of drug use or
time spent in juvenile detention, researchers found more girls than
boys used meth.

Klassen said part of the purpose of the study was to give parents
warning signs to look out for while providing health-care workers
information about young meth users.

"(It's) always important as a parent to ... be involved or aware of
your kid's life," he said.

Some local front-line workers who work with high-risk teens say while
studies like this are a good way to prompt conversations on the issue,
there is information on teens and drugs that can only be learned from
young drug users.

While meth use overall has gone down, for example, there could be an
increase this winter, said Karen Bruno, with Boyle Street Community
Services.

"Crystal meth is taken in the winter so (they) can stay up at night
and (they) don't freeze."