CHEMICAL DRUG TREND 'QUITE FRIGHTENING': SANDERSON

As she listened to a presentation on the dangers of drug abuse from a
man who has witnessed it first hand, it was all Pam could do not to
break down.

While many who attended Sgt. Ian Sanderson's session on drug trends
Wednesday afternoon were there on behalf of community organizations,
Pam was there out of fear the drug scene could tear her family apart.

"I'm just worried about my son's behaviour. He just turned 16 and I
would like to think he isn't doing drugs, but you never know. I think
it's important to educate myself," said the local mom of two who
didn't want her last name used.

"I've seen some changes in him lately and I can't decide if it's just
teenage rebellion or something more serious. I want to have the facts
so I can address what's happening in my own house before it's too late."

Sanderson, an RCMP drug expert from Edmonton, was in the city this
week to give public presentations on drug trends, including the
effects of use, what symptoms to look for, popular drugs being sold on
the streets and what communities can do to address drug issues.

The timing of his workshops coincided with National Addictions
Awareness Week and although he says drugs like marijuana, cocaine and
heroin are still out there, it is the new, at-home manufactured
chemical drugs that are causing more and more problems.

'SHOW UP ANYWHERE'

"Chemical drugs are a new trend and they're quite frightening. These
are the types of drugs that can show up anywhere," said Sanderson, who
has been a member of the Edmonton Drug Awareness Service since 2002.

Chemical drugs - also known as "club drugs" - include ecstasy,
ketamine, GHB and methamphetamine, which often turn up on the streets
in combination. Club drugs can be manufactured just about anywhere and
all have the potential to cause a significant addiction.

"The whole club scene culture is on the decline, but the drugs are
still being sold on the street," Sanderson said, noting ecstasy is
still a drug of choice among the younger crowd.

"It has an aura about it. It seems sexy and cool and is thought of as
a 'clean' drug. It's not - more than 60 per cent of ecstasy tablets
contain meth and approximately 22 per cent contain ketamine. There's
an ambivalent attitude about that and the mixture presents a new
problem with treatment. What exactly are they addicted to?"

Since the early 1990s, police and narcotics specialists have been
keeping a close eye on the manufacturing and use of meth. The drug is
experiencing exponential growth across the country and, in some
jurisdictions, is surpassing cocaine as the illicit drug of choice.

"Methamphetamine is a very significant problem. It doesn't matter
where you go - it's the number one emerging drug issue all around the
world. With meth, you get a four-to-16-hour high. It's much cheaper
and longer-lasting than cocaine and that's part of what makes it so
attractive to users," Sanderson said.

"We haven't even seen the potential of this. It hasn't gotten to the
point where it takes over (society). If we let it go ... well, draw
your own conclusions. There is value in working together as a
community. Obviously, this is our time to be proactive about this drug."

And that, he says, means making the community aware of the harmful
effects of the drug and teaching kids to stay away from harmful substances.

"It just takes over your life," he said, adding the behaviour and mind
set of a meth addict is not unlike that of a paranoid
schizophrenic.

"The blunt and honest truth with kids is good, but we want to
encourage them to make good choices. Talking about the long-term
effects of drug use is a good way to discuss it. Scaring the pants off
of kids doesn't work, because they can see through that. Instead,
focus on the negative life impact that drugs can have.

"These are not victimless crimes. Exposing children to this type of
behaviour puts them on a (bad) path. If we can intervene early and
treat it as what it is - child abuse - maybe we can break the cycle."

As a family support worker with PACE, Shirley Lauritsen has attended
several drug awareness sessions before, but much of Sanderson's blunt
information was brand new.

"I've been to many of these types of things, but I did get some new
information. Any information in drug use and the effects is really
advantageous for us," she said.

"There are always new things happening so it's important to find out
as much as you can."

While she and more than 100 people were on hand for Wednesday's
session alone - Sanderson also spoke publicly on Tuesday - Lauritsen
says more people in the community should be made aware of the dangers
of drug use.

"There is a really ambivalent attitude.

"I only wish more young people could see and hear what (Sanderson) has
to say. You have to get the information to them when they're young
,because when they're adults it's too late."