DRUG TALK DRAWS 150

If anyone went to the drug awareness presentation last Tuesday thinking
people they know can't become drug addicts or drugs aren't a problem in
Taber, they would have left with a different perspective.

This Friday local leaders in various professions that deal with drugs and
drug use and representatives from Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
(AADAC) are having a focus group session.

Once initiatives are generated community members will be called on for
assistance in dealing with the drug problems in Taber.

Approximately 150 community members took in the presentation by Const.
Howard Kehler, local school resource officer and Insp. Graham Abela of the
Taber Police Service at St. Mary's school last Tuesday evening.

When the last community presentation was held approximately 30 people attended.

"People are more interested. They are seeing the affects drugs have on the
community and because of that people care," said Abela.

Kehler asked community members to help Taber police catch people
trafficking drugs in town and to assist people they know who are using drugs.

"I'm asking everyone in this room to be a rat," said Kehler.

"We need you to take this information you have received and tell it to
everyone you know because we need your help."

Abela informed people crack cocaine and powdered cocaine use in Taber is
alarming, D-methamphetamine, which is 10 times more powerful than regular
speed and has potential to be the most destructive street drug, is in the
community and that Taber police know there are users in town that are 14-16
years old.

He also stated people he talked to addicted to heavy drugs started with
marijuana.

Mark Davidson, principal at W.R. Myers, told participants while less
students are getting caught with drugs this year, staff members hear more
arguments between students over money matters that could be linked to drug
deals.

Kehler informed people a new policy allows police to use an RCMP dog to
search lockers at both Taber high schools if they have reason to believe
they contain drugs.

"(After) your child goes out don't be afraid to get back into their
vehicle," said Kehler.

"You have all the authority in the world to search that vehicle. We don't."

Abela said while people who try drugs are making a poor decision initially,
once they are addicts The Taber Police Service views them as victims.

Members of the service spoke with doctors, arranged for care facilities and
provided transportation for three individuals who were having problems with
crack cocaine.

Taber police believe consumption of crack cocaine in Taber is about a
kilogram per week, which has a value of $40,000 to $45,000.

Abela said at first people on cocaine seem fun loving and happy, but with
extreme use become paranoid.

Some major health risks associated with cocaine use include induced
seizures, heart arrhythmia's, lung disease and rapid weight loss.

Abela said prior to four weeks ago police believed there were meth users in
town, but now they know it's here in small amounts.

While Taber police are concerned because meth is here, they are taking
early intervention steps by joining with others to deal with it the best
they can.

He told those in attendance 42 per cent of people get addicted to meth
after their first try, 94 per cent develop a dependency after their second
try and the average life span of a chronic meth addict after they start
taking the drug is three to five years.

A common health risk tied to meth use is most people on it for a
significant period of time are introduced to the mental health system with
some developing paranoia schizophrenia.

Some other startling outcomes can include kidney, liver and lung disease.

An overdose of meth can cause outcomes similar to a heart attack.

To illustrate how easy it is for people to learn how to make meth, Kehler
said he found a recipe for it on the Internet in less than a minute.

Abela said the drug is frightening because it's cheap at $80 per gram, easy
to make with cold remedies containing ephedrine, chemical solvents and
apparatus and the high lasts for eight hours.

He said sometimes people will take ketamine, which is a horse tranquilizer,
to come off the high to sleep.

He also added meth and cocaine have caused violent crime to increase by 42
per cent in Red Deer.

Abela said an increase in violent crimes Taber police used to rarely see
such as sexual assault, a break and enter and assault, assaults, theft of
properties and a hand gun being shown at a local bar, have been linked to
cocaine in town.