RCMP EXPOSE DRUG PROBLEM

Princeton RCMP hosted a Drug Information Session last Thursday night
at PSS. Close to 150 people jammed into the school cafeteria for the
PowerPoint presentation.

"Crystal Meth is impacting all of us," says Sgt. Kurt Lozinski, "We
could sit here and talk about all the drugs but the need to identify
this drug is paramount. We (the local police) are seeing a lot of this
drug lately and it's scaring the pants off me."

Lozinski and Cst. Ryan McLeod have taken a number of courses covering
drug production and use and they shared their knowledge willingly with
all present for the presentation.

Crystal meth is one form of methamphetamine which is a stimulant for
the central nervous system. An entire culture revolves around this
severely addictive drug.

"There's nothing that compares to it," says Lozinski. "It simply puts
you over the edge."

Meth is known by many street names, including crank and meth and three
stages of use have been identified: recreational, which leads to
intermediate, which leads to addiction.

Samples of crystal meth, cocaine and ecstasy were shown throughout the
crowd so everyone present could identify the drugs.

The samples came from local seizures, "We're seizing meth three to
four times a week now."

The presentation outlined several ways a user can take the drug and
the chain of use. Basically a user starts by swallowing the drug
advancing to snorting. The next step is smoking which leads to injection.

With so many methods of using the drug, it only makes sense that meth
is available in many different forms. Meth is most commonly found in
Princeton in a crystal which looks much like glass shards.

The presentation also outlined what street level packaging looked
like, pipes used for larger quantities and the pricing and dosages
commonly used.

Lozinski hammered home many points including this one: "A lot of these
people (users) aren't working so how do you think they are getting the
money? They're getting it from stealing from you and me."

The number one effect of meth is what it does to a
user.

"Use of meth causes permanent damage of brain cells."

Other problems with the drug include one-time use addiction, it's
easy, cheap and fast to produce, cheap to buy and synthetic - meth is
produced with all ingredients found locally.

Some characteristics of a meth user include extreme paranoia, high
pain threshold, irrational thoughts, open sores, weight loss and dark
circles under the eyes.

"There are guys who can lift cars when on this stuff."

The presentation also explained meth abuser characteristics, symptoms
of withdrawal and items used to make meth.

"Marijuana is the gateway to these other drugs," Lozinski said and
although local police have yet to have located a local meth lab, they
believe there could be as many as three active labs in the area.

Meth stats in Princeton show no occurances or charges laid in 2000 and
2001 with 2 occurances and one charge laid in 2002. That number
increased to 4 occurances and 2 charges in 2003, 14 occurances and 7
charges in 2004 and 35 occurances with 20 charges in 2005.

Cst. McLeod discussed hallucinogens with emphasis on ecstasy and 'date
rape' drugs.

Methylenedioxymethampetamine was originally developed in 1914 as an
appetite suppressant but was never marketed. It is now popular as a
'rave' or 'feel good' drug. Best known as ecstasy, there are many
street names. It is often pressed into a tablet form with logos and
characters that are geared to a youth market.

"People think its a clean drug but its got methamphetamine in its
name," McLeod pointed out.

Desired effects of the drug include heightened senses which will last
four to five hours. Undiseriable effects include sleeplessness,
nervousness and tension in the muscles.

"Most of the seizures weve made, in my experience, are mostly on the
highway," says McLeod. "We do have it being trafficked in the
community. We do know it's here, that's for sure."

PCP, Ketamine, GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate) and Rohypnol were also
discussed. The last three are best known as 'date rape' drugs.

Lozinski wrapped up the two hour presentation with a reminder to
parents. "The main thing is to get involved in your kids lives and
know what to look for."