SOUL SEARCHING AROUND THE HORRORS OF CRYSTAL METH

Last month the Express ran a two-part series on crystal meth, and the
efforts being made across Alberta and locally to get to the root of
this growing problem before it becomes epidemic.

There is a provincial task force underway, and RCMP in the city and
rural areas are doing their best to stop crystal meth operations
before they take hold in the region.

The meth problem, however, is largely underground. Users and dealers
live in the shadows.

Large-scale production operations for the drug can take just a few
hours to set up, manufacture, tear down and distribute.

Participants then steal away into the night.

While they may only be fleeting shadows for some, hundreds of others
in the city and region will bear the scars of meth for a lifetime.

Since the series was published I have received numerous letters from
those who have been directly affected by this evil drug. These are
inspiring messages.

Carole Scott, of Red Deer, wrote me to tell about a friend who was in
his last semester at the University of Calgary to become a lawyer.

One evening the young man went to a party and decided to try meth for
the first time.

Carole said he became instantly hooked. His life quickly spiralled
downhill.

"He lost not only me as a friend but many other others, plus family,"
said Carole. "We do not trust him in our homes as he may steal our
possessions to supply the next hit."

Obviously, the plight of Carole's friend had a profound impact on her
and the many friends and family of this young man who dared to try
crystal meth, just that one time.

Carole also provided me with a poem written by a young woman from
British Columbia. This woman was a crystal meth addict and she was in
jail.

"To all you young people out there who are considering trying drugs
for the first time -- reconsider," said Carole. "Do you want to be an
outcast from friends and family, covered in ugly sores, homeless and
then to die young? Think again. Please read the poem."

The poem is called I am meth.

I destroy homes, I tear families apart, I take your children, and
that's just the start. I'm more costly than diamonds, more precious
than gold, The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold. Just try me once
and I might let you go, But try me twice, and I'll own your soul. When
I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie. You do what you have to --
just to get high. The crimes you'll commit for my narcotic charms,
Will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms. You'll lie to
your mother, you'll steal from your dad, When you see their tears, you
should feel sad.

You could have said no, and just walked away, If you could live that
day over, now what would you say? I'll be your master, you will be my
slave, I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave. Now that you
have me, what will you do? Will you try me or not? It's all up to you.
I can bring you more misery than words can tell. Come take my hand,
let me lead you to hell.

This young woman was released from prison shortly after she wrote this
poem.

Authorities soon found her dead -- with a needle still in her arm.

Red Deer's Shirley Chorney has also felt this type of tragic loss. The
teenage son of a dear friend in Toronto recently died of a drug overdose.

"There are memories of such sadness for the family. There are no
answers," said Shirley. "I think we question, `Why?"

She is now searching her own soul for some sort of answer to the
insanity on today's streets - to why young people have to die a
horrible death, why so many windows, doors and common sense are closed
to the needs and pleas of neighbours, fellow men and women and worst
of all, to the children of tomorrow.

In an essay called Someone's Child, Shirley writes that hiding in
"safe houses" for citizens is only a short term answer, and that the
"blight" will sooner or later affect us all, no matter how tightly all
of us close our eyes to the madness of crystal meth and drugs.

"So where do we start? There must be a beginning before we realize an
end -- clear away the broken souls, the non-validations, the debris?,"
writes Shirley.

"For I know how easy it is to just throw up our hands at the
unpleasantness and unbelievable indignity, degradation, dehumanizing
pit we find meets our senses.

"Perhaps we can learn to listen and not judge. Perhaps," she added.

That is how Shirley ended her essay -- a soft gentle plea that it is
best to listen and learn, that all of us are just too quick to shut
doors of reason and compassion because of a fear of looking at
something too unpleasant, too horrific.

With that in mind, we may just be slowly stripping away our own
humanity.

As some (certainly not all) declared Christians would ask, "What would
Jesus do?"

I'm betting he would instantly grab hold of the tortured souls, wrap
his arms around them and provide everlasting love, comfort and
understanding.

Yes -- even to meth addicts. I am certain of that.

The Jonathan Clatter Award of Merit: To Dr. Robert Lampard, who has been
very, very busy with his writing.

Last month, Bob -- a long-time local Rotary and Central Alberta
Historical Society member, released The Life and Times of James and
Lillian Davidson. Now, he has just released Five Celebrated Early
Surgeons of Southern Alberta (1874 -- 1913).

The 48-page book is part of a much larger series of events and
profiles Bob started 15 years ago.

For more information on the book and to get a copy -- which costs $11,
plus shipping -- contact Carly Stewart, of the Lethbridge Historical
Society, at (403) 320-4994.