CRYSTAL METH TRIP NO JOYRIDE: FORMER ADDICT

Youth User Numbers Expected To Go Up

George Wonnacott has some sobering words for anyone thinking of trying
crystal meth. "You won't have any fun, no matter how much you think
you will," said the 22-year-old recovering meth addict. "You will have
a lot of memories you can't remember, a lot of hurts that didn't need
to be. If you have any goals and aspirations in your life, none of
them will come to pass while you are doing it."

Wonnacott was addicted to meth for two years until a series of massive
seizures sent him to the emergency room. He's been clean for six months.

In the beginning, meth was a non-stop party. One $20 "point" lasted
Wonnacott nearly two days. Exploding with energy, he would dance eight
hours straight at a party.

Soon Wonnacott was snorting up to four points a day just to function.
He lied to friends and family, borrowing $6,000 to feed his addiction.
He lost his job at a clothing store. He became paranoid friends were
trying to have him arrested.

The drug's physical toll was dramatic. Wonnacott lost half the
cartilage in his nose snorting meth and watched his weight drop from
170 pounds to 135. While high he would stay awake for days at a time,
eating nothing.

"Your body gets so tired and your brain gets so out of sorts. You
can't really make sense of what is going on around you because you
can't focus on one thing."

About 8.5% of youth clients at the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba
reported using crystal meth in the past year, according to figures for
2002-2003. That's more than double the amount for adults, said
prevention and education consultant Sheri Fandrey.

"We are anticipating those numbers are going to continue to increase,"
Fandrey said, adding the figures are likely grossly underestimated.
And more clients are identifying meth as their drug of choice, Fandrey
said.

Chronic users typically suffer from paranoia, visual and auditory
hallucinations, rages and suicidal thoughts.