ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE WITH RHYTHM

Addiction can make people do insane things - like continuing to take
a drug that makes them suicidal, paranoid, gives them hallucinations
or delusions, can lead to liver damage and brain damage, makes them
itch and causes vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia and, ultimately, death.

Those are just a few of the side effects of methamphetamine, also
known as crystal meth, ice, glass, crank, speed or chalk. It is one
of the most addictive and readily available drugs out there and one
that educators and police are increasingly seeing among teenagers.

Students in Burnaby recently had the chance to learn more about
crystal meth and drug addiction in a form that some are hoping will
be more conducive to spreading the word and changing behaviours.

Cranked is one-man play that tells the story of Stan, a rising star
who loses it all because of a meth habit. Performed through spoken
word and hip-hop, the Green Thumb Theatre production offers a unique
avenue for youth to get engaged in the topic, and it's been receiving
rave reviews for doing just that.

Actor Kyle Cameron has been performing as Stan since the play was
first done in 2006 and says that, when it comes to teens, the key is
keeping an open door.

"It doesn't pander, it doesn't preach. We keep the 'after-school
special' out of it - the moment something gets cheesy and preachy,
kids would tune out," he says.

They're certainly on to something: reviews of the show and feedback
from audience members have been stellar.

"What we hear, the responses we get, is that yes, this show is having
an impact on them."

Cameron is both hopeful and realistic about the long-term effect.

"If you're performing in front of 400 kids - were all 400 touched
deeply? Probably not. But if some of them were, and they go on and
remember that, and talk to their friends, that can change someone's life."

The show was brought to Burnaby with the help of the school
district's substance abuse prevention worker Brenda Leface.

She says the district does a variety of drug awareness programs but
says that Cranked was something she thought would really appeal to
the students.

It also provides an opportunity to let kids know that there are
people to turn to.

"It's important for them to realize that there's someone out there
who can understand where they are. It's about opening up
communication and trust."