METH DANGER EXPOSED

Crystal methamphetamine is in the Cowichan Valley, and the drug is already
messing up young people.

"We have this problem coming at us very quickly in Duncan," said Margaret
Hess, executive director of the Cowichan Mental Health Association. "We'd
like to think that we have this nice little town where nothing happens, but
that's not the case. We're seeing kids get into major trouble with this."

While the drug is already here, Hess says knowledge about it lags behind.

That's why the CMHA is putting on a video and discussion on crystal meth
next Wednesday evening.

The drug is easy to cook up from fairly common chemicals, making it cheap
to purchase and readily available.

That's a problem, Hess says, because it's also highly addictive.

"It has the ability to be addictive within a week of using it," she said.
"If kids buy $50 worth, that's enough to keep them going long enough to
become addicted."

The drug is known to cause short-term brain damage, and while it's too new
for the long-term effects to be known doctors believe that damage could be
permanent.

Next week's discussion will include a video made by a group of Victoria
youth exploring their own experiences with crystal meth addiction, and a
video by Victoria doctor Doug McGhee who has researched crystal meth.

Also in attendance will be members of the local theatre group Acting Out,
who hope to begin presenting their play on crystal meth entitled Crystal
Diagnosis in October.

Hess is also hoping for representation from the RCMP and addictions counselors.