OVER 200 ATTEND CRYSTAL METH FORUM

A packed room of over 200 people attending the crystal methamphetamine drug
forum were shocked to hear a teen claim up to 70 per cent of high school
students are using crystal methamphetamines, but many are saying that
number is grossly inaccurate.

"I was completely surprised by that," said Pat Walsh, Mission RCMP
inspector when he heard that figure at last Wednesday's forum at the Best
Western Hotel's ballroom. "It's probably accurate in his particular peer
group."

The executive director of Fraser House agreed, saying people tend to hang
out with those they share things in common with.

"From his perception, it's 100 per cent accurate," said Harry O'Connor.
"But from our perception, 25 per cent [of youths] are misusing drugs and
alcohol."

Though there are no statistics on how many teens are using drugs in
Mission, O'Connor based his figures on the feedback his counsellors at
Fraser House received from teens.

Following a film about crystal meth at the 90 minute long forum, the
audience shared their experiences on how the drug has affected them.

Kory, 15, an addict for two years and clean since August 2003, shared his
experience of being an addict and expressed the controversial figure that
60 to 70 per cent of teens in Mission high schools are using the drug,
something teens in the mixed age audience didn't disagree with.

He also said he saw fellow students using crystal meth while attending
Cedar Valley, Mission secondary, and even Christine Morrison elementary.

But drug usage in elementary schools is nothing new to Laurel Klassen, an
RCMP officer who started up the Mission chapter of Drug Abuse Resistance
Education (DARE). He said the DARE curriculum is actually geared towards
kids in Grade 5.

"In Grade 5, kids start to be exposed to drugs," Klassen said. "Introducing
kids to DARE in Grade 7 or 9 is too late."

The core program starts at Grade 5 and follow up education occurs in Grade
7 and 9. Klassen said the program talks about the consequences when teens
use drugs and alcohol and how to make good choices. He also pointed out
that there's a lack of knowledge amongst school officials about drugs such
as crystal meth.

Katina, 17, attended the forum and experienced that lack of knowledge first
hand.

"The counsellors never knew anything about it," Katina said about crystal
meth, which she started using last summer, but is now clean. "I had to tell
them about it."

She also said the drug education she received told her to say no to drugs,
but didn't tell her how, the dangers of using crystal meth, and how it
affects users.

Crystal meth can be snorted, swallowed, injected or smoked. Some of the
ingredients include cough syrup, drain cleaner, battery fluid, gasoline,
paint thinner, and matches. The highly addictive drug can be made at home
and is taken to boost alertness, block out hunger and fatigue, and cause
euphoria. However, ingredients vary and the drug can cause long term
paranoia, hallucinations, violence, self destructiveness, and convulsions.
Death occurs when blood vessels in the brain burst or from heart failure.

Walsh, a 26-year RCMP officer, attributes 80 per cent of all crimes in
Mission to substance abuse.

"Some people say we have an auto theft problem, some people say we have a
property crime problem, some say we have a prostitution problem, we don't
. What we have is a drug addiction problem," Walsh said at the forum.
"Drug addiction is a health care issue, but the tool we're using is the
criminal justice system."

Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Randy Hawes admitted to the crowd there is a
shortage of treatment beds and detox for addicts wanting to get clean, but
promised there will be more. Many addicted teens and their parents
expressed concern at the severe lack of detox facilities and residential
beds for those who want to get clean. The audience also heard stories of
addicts being sent away to places like Terrace to receive treatment because
local facilities were full.

Hawes also said the provincial government is looking to bring in the Safe
Care Act which allows the removal of teens from the streets, many who are
addicts and either left or were kicked out of their home, to be locked up
for 30 days and forced to receive treatment. This forum was similar to one
in Maple Ridge, organized by the Meadowridge Rotary Club. That club decided
to get involved when they found the cause of much of the crime and
homelessness was due to crystal meth.

They recently released a plan of action to combat the drug. The report
calls for a bylaw to penalize property owners who rent their homes to
people who produce crystal meth, educating the community, determine ways to
restrict the purchase of ingredients used to manufacture the drug, and
connecting the drug addicts with community outreach workers who could help
them stop using.

Walsh is waiting to see the Mission community put their words into action
and said there are things in Maple Ridge's report he'd like to see emulated
in Mission's action plan.

The forum was sponsored by the Mission Rotary Clubs.