'CAN YOU MAKE THE VOICES GO AWAY?'

People packed the Canfor Theatre at UNBC, Feb. 2, to hear from
politicians and experts on the impact of methamphetamine - commonly
known as meth or crystal meth -use in the province.

Solicitor General John Les, Education Minister Shirley Bond, Prince
George-Omineca MLA John Rustad, Mayor Colin Kinsley, criminology
professor Terry Waterhouse of the University College of the Fraser
Valley and Fraser House addictions councillor Angela Marshall spoke
about some of the effects of the drug, and about what solutions may exist.

"Crystal meth is cheap and quite accessible in most communities. But
the social costs of crystal meth are enormous," Les said. "The drug
is ripping apart families. If you take it once, it can kill you. The
stories are truly heartbreaking."

The government has set aside $7 million for community-based programs
to combat the drug, he said. Prince George's share equals $10,000
which the City can apply for.

In addition, he said, Bond's ministry is developing a meth education
curriculum targeting students in Grades 8-12 about the dangers of
using the drug.

Marshall said meth can be made with over the counter pseudo-ephedrine
based cold medications and household chemicals like red phosphorus
from matchbooks, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, acetone and brick scrubber.

"Meth is also cut with cheap toxic chemicals like Windex, battery
acid, antifreeze, lye, gasoline, rat poison and bleach," she said.
"Meth is more of a poison than a drug."

It's usually sold in powder or crystal form in small plastic "point
bags" for $5 to $10 a "point," she said. "One point is enough for
three kids to get high for four to six hours," she said.

It is either smoked, snorted like cocaine, injected intravenously,
dissolved in liquid and drank, or eaten in the form of tablets or
loose powder wrapped in tissue, she said.

At first it creates an intense feeling of euphoria, energy and mental
focus, she said. "It sounds too good to be true, and it is," she
said. "It just eats you inside out."

Side effects of the drug include rapid weight loss, bleeding sores
all over the body, tooth rot, confusion, paranoia, random aggression,
depression, and even permanent psychosis, she said.

"I got a call from a 17-year-old boy. He said, 'I hear you can help
me. Can you make the voices go away?' I couldn't," Marshall said.
"Sometimes [with treatment] they get better and sometimes the voices
don't go away."

When high, meth addicts often engage in obsessive, repetitive tasks
like cleaning, doodling or picking at sores, she said. This is known
as "teching," she added.

"They can pick themselves down to the bone," she added.

"Sketching" is a when meth addicts start experiencing delusions,
voices and paranoia, she said.

"It's a terrifying state of mind. The shadows come in, then they
start taking shapes and talking," Marshall said.

"Tweaking" is perhaps the most dangerous of the behaviors commonly
associated with meth. "It can result in totally unprovoked rage and
violence," she said.