TIK: IT'S WAR, VOWS RASOOL

As the use of crystal meth or "tik" explodes among young people in the
Western Cape, premier Ebrahim Rasool has vowed that three major druglords
will be arrested by the end of September.

"Within the next 100 days, we will identify enough evidence that will lead
to the preparation of warrants of arrest for three major Cape druglords,"
he said at Cape Town station yesterday at the launch of a youth service train.

"We will also deal with their bail applications properly to ensure that we
are able to sustain cases against them. This 'tik tik' drug has added an
urgency, so we want to tell those who peddle drugs that we are serious."

The Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre says a third of drug abusers they
treat are crystal methamphetamine abusers and most of them are children.

Director Grant Jardine said the number of adolescents the centre treated
for the abuse of crystal meth, ice "tik" or "tuk tuk" - all different names
for the same drug - has increased dramatically over the past two years.

"In 2002 less than 1% of the people we treated used crystal methamphetamine
as a primary drug of choice. In 2003 it was 5% and last month it was a
third," he said.

Adolescence was a time of change and awkwardness and the drug was
attractive to the young because it gave a sense of euphoria and confidence,
said Jardine.

While the drug is more addictive than dagga or alcohol, the speed at which
someone becomes addicted depends on the person, the reason they are taking
the drug and whether they are taking any other drugs.

Ron Swartz, head of the Cape Education Department, said they were aware of
the escalating problem at schools, and the Safe Schools Project had been
visiting schools with the police to warn pupils about the drug.

Spine Road High principal Riyaadh Najaar recently suspended six pupils for
using tik at an inter-house sports day. "It was reported to me at the
sports event that children were using some form of drug in the toilet," he
said. He found two girls smoking tik and questioned them until they gave
the names of the other four. "We called in their parents and they were
suspended," said Najaar.

The pupils were allowed back at the school after six weeks once they had
proved through independent drug testing that they were no longer using.
Najaar and his staff had embarked on an aggressive information campaign at
the school about the effects of drug abuse.

Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore said his department accepted
they had a responsibility to inform pupils about the dangers of this and
other drugs.

The department will launch awareness programmes in all Western Cape schools
for the duration of international drug awareness week, which starts on June 21.

Recent media reports of increased use of tik by schoolchildren are
supported by the calls about the drug handled by the Safe Schools call
centre since the beginning of the year. Of the 223 calls, 130 originated in
the south and central school districts which encompass the Cape Flats and
southern suburbs, while 47 originated from the northern suburbs. Only 15
calls came from schools outside highly urbanised areas.

What is tik?

Tik is crystal methamphetamine, a colourless, odourless form of
d-methamphetamine. It is a powerful, highly addictive synthetic stimulant.

What does it look like?

It resembles small fragments of glass or shiny blue-white "rocks" of
various sizes. It is often distributed as a powder, mixed with rat poison
or bicarbonate of soda. It can be inhaled or burned like heroin. A new
development in Cape Town is to distribute it in straws.

What are the side-effects?

It can lead to hallucinations, delusions, psychotic episodes, violent or
aggressive behaviour and severe weight loss.

What are signs of abuse?

Look out for a combination of dilated pupils, rapid speech, aggressive
behaviour, anxiety and headaches. Behavioural changes include
over-confidence; insomnia; changes in dress, friends and slang; and the
child not being interested in what he/she used to like before.

If you suspect your child is taking tik

Speak to your child but don't judge. Honestly express concern and listen to
what he or she has to say. If you don't get an appropriate response you
need to act. Contact the child's school, an organisation like the Cape Town
Drug Counselling Centre (021 447 8026), the SA Council on Alcoholism and
Drug Dependence (021 945 4080) or Safe Schools (0800 454 647).