METH IN LOCAL SCHOOLS

Not just a big city problem, the scary fact is that dangerous drugs
are here. Frighteningly enough, the highly-addictive drug known as
crystal meth is said to be circulating around area high schools.
"There were a number of people arrested [for using or selling crystal
meth] from Brussels, Seaforth and Clinton," Sr. Const. Don Shropshall
of the Huron County OPP said. "It's definitely in the area." The drug
has recently appeared in Perth County and has been spreading through
the area. Shropshall said the majority of people arrested for using
or selling the drug have been in their late 20s or early 30s. "Word
is, it's in our high schools.

They are peddling it to teens," he said. "There were 17 labs found in
Perth County and there are a couple of labs in Huron," Shropshall
said. "[Crystal meth is] made up of poisons and can be easily made."
He said the labs use flammable substances that could easily cause
fires and release gases in the air that could cause lungs to collapse or death.

The drug causes major side effects to the body such as "weight loss,
discolouration of the skin, sores, and there's a rapid aging
process," he said. Alex Berry, supervisor at Huron Addiction Services
said the centre has seen some clients who use crystal meth. "The
community usually sees and hears about [use of the drug] before the
addiction centres do," he said. "We know people who are using
[crystal meth] but we aren't hearing about it as much as Perth
County." Crystal meth is a stimulant and Berry said people using it
will feel awake, alert, hungry, and thirsty. "Long-term use of
stimulants can often result in people feeling anxious, [experiencing]
psychosis, and weight loss." Berry said any drug that is injected
directly into the body or smoked is going to be more addictive than
something that is ingested by eating or drinking. "Someone could use
the drug one time and continue to find ways to get it," Shropshall
said. This addiction then leads to an obvious result of more crime in
order to support the habit. "Heavy drug use, [we have found] leads to
break and enters and thefts," he said.