STUDY SHOWS CRYSTAL METH USE IS A PROBLEM IN BRUCE AND GREY

Social agencies and municipal politicians got a look at the disturbing
facts around crystal meth Friday as a Grey Bruce coalition made a
pitch for help battling the problem.

Crystal meth use in Bruce and Grey is growing faster than the
provincial average, according to a report by Glenda Clarke and
Associates. Health Canada's most recent figures - from 2004 - put meth
use at 9.8 per cent of adults surveyed, while a 2007 Ontario Student
Drug and Health survey shows 1.4 per cent of students used meth that
year.

Crystal meth may not be in widespread use for the general population,
according to a report from the Centre for Addictions and Mental
Health, but meth use is on the rise among street youth.

Parents of users and users who spoke at Friday's forum made it clear
that on the street is where crystal meth puts its victims.

"This drug addiction is nothing short of a nightmare," said a parent
identified as Mary.

"Crystal meth is not even a drug in my eyes, it is a poison, my
daughter is poisoning herself, and we are watching a beautiful
teenager turn into a devil before us."

A user identified as Bill said when he was 20 a friend gave him
crystal meth. "Eventually it caused all kinds of problems like anger.
I freaked out easily and had financial troubles. Everything was
affected. I couldn't hold a job. I had maybe 12-15 jobs over that
time," he said.

The poignant stories and consultant's report are part of developing a
comprehensive response to crystal meth and getting the support of the
province and Bruce and Grey counties, said Bruce county social
services director Terry Sanderson. Social services, probation,
Children's Aid and the Health Unit were among those at Friday's meeting.

The range of services indicates the wide-spread impact of the drug.
While far less common than alcohol addictions that are the mainstream
problem in Grey and Bruce, Sanderson said meth is an addictive,
aggressive drug that can lead to property crimes and violence.

Crystal meth is similar to the speed that killed and damaged users in
the 1970s. Experts can't explain why its use is rising among teen
girls and men in their 20s, but suggest the strong, long-lasting high
and relatively cheap cost are factors.

The report chronicles the devastating impact on the user's health,
from extreme weight loss to tooth decay. It cites concern about a
growing number of meth parents who neglect their children, and about
the danger posed by explosive and toxic meth labs in homes.

Long-term cognitive damage leaves users unable to cope successfully
with life. That hurts families and neighbourhoods, puts the user in
repeated conflict with finances and the law, and creates what the
report calls a 'slow bleed' of scarce resources as social services,
Children's Aid, hospitals, police and mental health agencies deal with
meth users.

The coalition is asking for provincial money for a task force that
will bump up law enforcement, harm reduction, education and treatment
options.

In the meantime the coalition can pool existing resources, said
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hazel Lynn.

"Now if I need someone from probation or whatever I've seen someone
here," she said.

"I think we do have enough momentum with the different organizations
that even though none of us have a huge amount of money if you put it
all together there's probably enough to get a task force going." One
mother identified as Mary said parents have been waiting years for
crystal meth to get attention. Parents rank tougher sentences for
repeat offenders at the top of their wish list of solutions.

"They're infecting our kids," Mary said about repeat users and dealers
who are quickly back on the streets after getting fines and
conditional sentences.

Lack of treatment options is another big problem. MPP Carol Mitchell
pointed out there are no residential spaces for children's mental
health care in Huron-Bruce riding.

"I continue to say that we have to have an expanded capacity for
children's mental health," Mitchell said.

That point was echoed by the plea from one parent for safe havens for
users, especially teens. Identified only as Susan, she said there's a
window of opportunity to help users before they become lost in the
drug, but without a safe haven or easily accessible treatment teens
are vulnerable to falling back in with friends and the drug crowd.

"Some people take our kids and they aren't in a safe place. They are
into drugs themselves, selling, making, etc," Susan said.

Municipalities need to be aware of the toll crystal meth is taking on
the community, said Grey County Warden Kevin Eccles. Grey and Bruce
are used to seeing young people go away for school and jobs, but he
said crystal meth addiction is robbing them of that potential.

"We're starting to see some of them come back," Eccles said of
graduates and early retirees. "Now I'm not certain we'll even see that
the youth we're developing now will even have that opportunity (for
education and careers) if this becomes the health unit's pandemic.
"

Susan gave all too graphic an example of that lost opportunity, and of
the continuing social and personal cost of crystal meth.

"Drugs are nasty and take control of our children's lives," she said.
"My daughter told us she did meth, ecstasy, bought and sold those,
used needles and other drugs.

"She is now 18-and-a-half and has been clean for about five months.
She is 20 weeks pregnant."