DON'T LET YOUR KIDS GO TO POT

The following is part of a series of informational articles aimed at
increasing public awareness about the services provided by the
Kamloops Victim Services unit.

The unit offers a variety of information and services, at no cost, to
any victim or witness of crime or trauma.

All unit members have received specialized, comprehensive training in
victims' issues, the criminal-justice system and crisis-intervention
techniques.

The unit is located in the main Kamloops RCMP detachment at 560 Battle
St. Victim Services operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can
be contacted at 250-828-3223.

Substance abuse by teens is a problem not unique to
Kamloops.

There is little doubt all youth will be exposed to and tempted to use
some form of illegal drug.

For most kids, the use will be limited to being present when others
are using, or using themselves because of curiosity coupled with
opportunity.

The next few columns will look at some of the most-frequently used
drugs in Kamloops and the dangers, effects and symptoms associated
with them. In addition, we will look at what triggers teens to use
drugs, how parents can become aware if their teen is using drugs and
what parents can do to reduce the possibility their kids will become
addicted to drugs.

The writer acknowledges information found in Robb McGirr's book, Teen
Drug Trends and assistance provided by Sgt. Scott Wilson and Const.
Cheryl Bush of the Kamloops RCMP.

First on the list of teen substance abuse is alcohol, which is most
likely to be the first drug experimented with.

According to a survey of 5,000 grades 8-12 students in the 2005/2006
school year in two large school districts, 65 per cent of students
admitted having used alcohol at some time and about 22 per cent had
used it in the last week.

While these findings may not be precise, they give an indication about
the prevalence of alcohol abuse by students.

Most parents are familiar with the symptoms of alcohol usage - the
odour of alcohol on the breath, the unsteady walk, the slurred speech
and the lack of physical co-ordination.

Therefore, we will not look at alcohol abuse in detail.

Alcohol also lowers inhibitions, which means teens may engage in
activities they would not when they are sober.

There is a disturbing trend to binge drinking, where the goal is to
consume so much alcohol the participants become totally oblivious to
their surroundings.

In this state, they may be more likely to make poor judgments that
often lead to extremely dangerous behaviour, including date rape and
violence.

Even more worrying is the possibility of alcohol poisoning that could
lead to death.

Alcohol is a "gateway" drug, in that young people who abuse alcohol
are more likely to go on to use marijuana and other illegal drugs.

The earlier a person starts drinking alcohol, the greater the chances
of developing a dependency on it and trying other drugs.

Marijuana is the second drug of choice amongst teens, with
approximately 55 per cent of students surveyed admitting to having
used marijuana in the past year.

It is also the drug most likely to be used on a daily basis by
students - about five per cent.

Marijuana is the most seriously abused drug by students.

Marijuana gets its potency from tetra hydra cannabinol
(THC).

Although THC is found throughout the plant, the greatest concentration
is in the plant's buds.

The next-highest concentration is in the plant's resin.

This can be condensed into hashish and sold in tan- and black-coloured
squares.

When marijuana first hit the market in the 1960s and 1970s, its THC
content was in the three-to-five per cent range and was imported from
tropical and sub-tropical countries.

The plant had only one or two buds.

Today, thanks to hybridization, marijuana has an THC content between
10 per cent and 16 per cent, although some has been analyzed at 30 per
cent. New varieties may have as many as 20 buds per plant.

Hybridization has also created smaller, more compact plants that has
allowed indoor grow operations to become the major source of marijuana
in B.C.

Even the residue of a grow-op can be rendered into bubble hash and
weed oil.

Parents who suspect their teen is using marijuana should look for the
following items that can be used in marijuana abuse:

Cigarette rolling papers such as Zig Zag are used to make joints Some
users have small pipes to smoke the drug, with the pipes having a
residual odour.

Some users have been known to use tap strainers to make a burning
bowl. Film canisters can be used to store the drug so it does not dry
out.

Bent paper clips may be used to dip into oil. The clip is heated and
the smoke inhaled.

Used clips will have burnt residue and residual small.

Physical symptoms of marijuana use may include bloodshot/glassy eyes
with dilated pupils and a relaxed, uncaring attitude.

It is the attitude that will translate itself into a decline in school
marks.

There is plenty of controversy regarding the dangers of using
marijuana.

It has been recreationally used for only about the last 40 years and,
as a result, there is not much research as to the long-term dangers
associated with its use.

What research there is confirms heavy use can lead to drug
dependency.

Other research indicates that because THC is fat-soluble, THC tends to
accumulate in the brain's synapses and disrupt the electrical signals
between brain cells.

The result is a lack of concentration, lethargy and a sedated-like
behaviour so users may be unaware of what is going on around them.

In the next column, on Dec. 12, we will look at two more drugs found
in Kamloops - crack cocaine and crystal meth - and the stages of drug
use.