HOW TO TELL IF YOUR CHILD IS ON METHAMPHETAMINES

Asharp increase in productivity is one of the first effects of crystal
methamphetamine, which often leaves unknowing parents happy their
child has upped his/her work ethic.

However, as about 65 parents and students learned during a meth forum
at Heritage Park Secondary School on Tuesday night, there's a slippery
slope after the initial honeymoon period with the speed-like drug.

It often begins with users taking meth for a week at a time or longer,
and ultimately can lead to permanent brain damage or death.

"It's an evil drug," said Angela Marshall, a youth drug and alcohol
counsellor in the Abbotsford-Mission area for the past seven years.

"I got a call recently from a young person . . . who said, 'I've been
[off meth] for a long time. When are the voices I'm hearing going to
stop?' I told him I didn't know. They may never go away. It's
heart-breaking."

While many parents who attended the forum know about meth and its
negative effects, they wanted to learn what signs to look for that
their child might be using.

Some of these include: Missing light bulbs around home [bulbs can be
made as pipes to smoke the drug], finding Ziploc bags that have no
smell and possible crystal white or yellow residue on them, finding
small squares of tinfoil with burnt residue [again used to smoke the
drug], or finding small mirrors or compact disc cases along with
wallet cards, razor blades and/or short drinking straws [items used to
make lines and snort the drug].

Teresa Carrao, a Mission mother of two, said the tips and overall
presentation were "very enlightening."

"You look at your own kids - you don't want it to happen to them,"
said Carrao, who was particularly touched by a presentation from
16-year-old Mission girl Amanda, who not too long ago was a tomboy who
"liked playing in the mud with boys" and got good grades in school.

The last four years, Amanda's been battling meth and other hard-drug
addictions. She's been in rehab twice, and recently raged on a male
friend so badly police officers arrested her - after she tried to hit
them with a beer bottle.

"I haven't been making the smartest choices lately," said Amanda,
whose tired face tells a story.

"I was clean for a year . . . I don't know why I started
again."

Carrao said the frightening part is meth can destroy any family. "The
presentation made that more real for me," she said.

The good news, however, is the drug can be beaten.

Twenty-four-year-old Amber Christie, from Mission, is
proof.

After 11 years as an addict, Christie told the crowd - which ranged
from kids younger than 10 to grandparents over 55 - she's been clean
for the past eight months.

She's currently getting her life back together, and is hoping to earn
her high school diploma in the near future.

"I'm happy," said Christie, who during her years as an addict was
jailed a couple of times, once for assault with a weapon. "Life is
good. I'm very anti-drug now."

Marshall summed up her presentation by telling family members and
friends of users to remain supportive.

"Don't ever give up on them," said Marshall. "The person inside,
they're still there. All of us make bad choices sometimes."

Crystal methamphetamine, also known as speed, is a synthetic central
nervous system stimulant. It's odourless and can be found in an
off-white powder, in crystal form [looks like broken glass] or in tablets.

Some of its ingredients include Muriatic Acid, anti-freeze and bleach.
It's usually sold in paper flaps, plastic bags, tablets or capsule
form. Crystal meth can be taken orally, smoked, snorted or injected.

Meth Behaviour

Some meth users display these traits/behaviours:

- - Pupils appear dilated in a well-lit room.

- - Excessively hyper, followed by excessive sleeping, eating and a
depressed and/or irritable mood.

- - Sniff excessively and rub nose often. Frequent nose
bleeds

- - Marked increase in productivity, then a disproportionate lack of
results

- - More talkative than usual and behave as if driven by a
motor

- - Unexplained sores on their face or skin that appears to be
picked

- - Act paranoid and are distrustful of people

- - Unreasonably hostile or angry over insignificant or imagined
events

- - Sweat excessively, accompanied by flushed skin

- - Spend excessive time repeating one task, like applying makeup,
styling hair, bathing, doodling, writing, etc.

- - Unable to perform everyday tasks like working, attending school or
meeting deadlines.

Where To Go For Help

Call Impact, an adolescent substance abuse program in Abbotsford, at
604-853-1766.

In Mission, you can call the Fraser House Outpatient Clinic at
604-826-6810.