TEEN'S DESCENT INTO MADNESS

When Langley resident Carolyne Beaudoin was growing up she had
aspirations of becoming a doctor. With straight As, presidency of her
student council and several scholarships lined up, she was on her way.

At 24, Beaudoin is nowhere close to that dream.

Instead, the petite blond now speaks to students about her painful
experience as a former crystal meth addict.

On Thursday afternoon, Beaudoin shared her story with Kwantlen
University College business students at the Langley campus.

"I've travelled a path of troubling times, victory and hope," Beaudoin
said. "I hope that by speaking out that I will deter others from
following that same path."

Township Councillor Kim Richter teaches a business class called the
Fundamentals of business in Canada at Kwantlen. The content emphasizes
the social responsibility that businesses have to act as good
corporate citizens.

Richter decided to ask Beaudoin to speak to her business class after
hearing her speak at a drug awareness event.

"I had heard her speak at a festival that I attended in October and
was just so impressed by her miraculous recovery and the message she
was delivering."

Summed up in one word, Beaudoin's message is 'prevention.'

When Beaudoin tried crystal meth for the first time at 16, she never
imagined the devastation and pain it would cause her and her family.
"The day I made the decision to do crystal meth I lost it all," said
Beaudoin.

"I had so much ahead of me... I wish someone had taken it way from me
and warned me that by taking it, I'd lose everything that was
important in my life."

It was the summer of '97 when Beaudoin was first introduced to the
seductive drug. She was a regular teenage girl who had a passion for
ballet and school. She came from a good family in a nice neighbourhood
in Burnaby and had plenty of friends.

Beaudoin couldn't wait for school to start so she could start her new
position as president of her student council.

"I was really looking forward to a great school year. This was going
to be the year I would book my limo and choose my dress for grad."

Beaudoin did get to attend her high school graduation, but only as a
guest.

"It was really hard for me watching everyone walk across the stage and
get their diploma except for me," she said.

Beaudoin was allowed to make a brief appearance at her graduation
dance but was so high on crystal meth that she was kicked out after
five minutes.

Her life began to spiral downwards that summer when her parents told
her they were getting a divorce.

As a distraction she started going to raves with her friends, where
she was introduced to the drug Ecstasy.

"Ecstasy was my gateway into using crystal meth," said
Beaudoin.

After using crystal meth three times she was hooked.

"The drug is very cheap and easy to get, said Beaudoin. "For just $5
you can stay high all day and night."

Come fall, Beaudoin had lost all interest in school activities and her
friends.

"I started partying heavily on the weekends, which led to partying
five nights a week," said Beaudoin.

Beaudoin told the class that she kept her crystal meth in a small box
under her mattress.

"I needed a rail (meth) just to get out of bed and drag myself to
school; otherwise the thought of going was just too
unbearable."

She said that her parents were feeling so guilty about the divorce
that they never questioned her about her behaviour.

"They had no idea I was using it for the longest time because I was
such a great kid.

"My mom even funded my habit for a long time without even knowing
about it."

Eventually, the former straight-A student ended all communication with
her friends and family, dropped out of school and became a full-time
drug addict living in hotel rooms and random houses.

After using the drug for only a couple of months she hardly recognized
her own appearance in the mirror.

"I became so skinny. My cheeks looked caved in any my eyes hollow. I
weighed only 80 pounds."

She became so heavily addicted that when she was released from the
hospital for overdosing she immediately went out and got high again.

"I remember my nose just wouldn't stop bleeding but all I could think
about was doing another rail."

Soon she was using any drug she could get her hands on and stole from
her mother to pay for her deadly habit.

Beaudoin barely survived after overdosing a second time and began to
fear for her life.

"After my second overdose I got really scared and knew I had to stop
or I'd die."

Beaudoin locked herself in a hotel room for four months, where she
slept for 20 hours a day. Aside from breaking down once, she hasn't
touched the drug since.

Beaudoin admits that her recovery was rare and that she is one of the
very few lucky ones.

"I'm very lucky to be here talking about this," she said. "A lot of my
friends who were users are now in jail and I've even watched a young
guy drop dead right beside me."

Since coming clean, Beaudoin has done some soul searching through
travelling and has taken classes at Langara College. She still aspires
to attend university and become a doctor but says it's just not in the
cards right now.

For Beaudoin, the long-term effects of the drug are still
present.

"I will always be an ex-drug addict," said Beaudoin. "I get paranoid
when I meet new people and I feel like no one understands me. My
memory is also pretty bad, I used to be able to talk to somebody just
once and I'd know their face forever but not any more."

It has taken her a long time to mend her broken relationship with her
parents but she has been working hard to regain their trust.

After her presentation Beaudoin left the students with an important
message.

"If you know anybody who is using crystal meth or considering using
it, do make yourself available, don't ever give up on them."

If you are using crystal meth and need help or know somebody who needs
help call the Youth Addiction Service's hotline at 1-800-663-1411.