THE SMELL OF DEATH

At age 21, I was introduced to ecstasy at after-hours and raves.

Then someone said, "Hey, take this line."

Sure enough, it was crystal meth, and I was hooked.

I took it all the time at work during the day for energy, and would stay up
for three days at a time.

At first, I thought I was the happiest girl in the world.

Then I overdosed twice. I was becoming paranoid and thought everyone was
out to kill me.

A friend told me, "You smell like death." And, sure enough, my body was
rotting from the inside because of crystal. The smell is like no other.

I stopped doing the drug on my own and got counselling. Although I would
slip up occasionally, once I became pregnant that stopped it altogether.

Today, I suffer constantly from nerve damage, anxiety and panic. But I have
learned to cope.

Crystal meth is everywhere, especially among young teenagers. I just try to
share my stories, hoping they will get scared.

And, if I ever get tempted, I just look at my daughter and say, "She is life."

Tamara Gerbrandt

Abbotsford