METH USE GROWING UP HERE

CRYSTAL METH use is rising in the northwest, but it still ranks behind
alcohol, marijuana and cocaine as an overall addictions problem, say
drug and alcohol counsellors working for Northwest Addiction Services,
an agency based in Terrace.

Yet they say the devastating health and physiological impacts of
crystal meth make it one of the most dangerous drugs available.

"Alcohol may be a lifetime addiction, a slow decline. But with crystal
meth, you spiral down rapidly. There's no such thing as an old crystal
meth user," says Richard LeBlanc, a counsellor in a youth rehab home
here connected to Northwest Addictions Services.

Crystal meth is methamphetamine, a drug that produces a soaring
long-term high and a crash at the other end.

"The high can last up to 30 hours and it's cheap," said LeBlanc. "It's
not unusual to do a four-day run and crash for a day and a half of
sleep."

Long term effects include visual hallucinations, violent behaviour and
personal health problems.

"It's a real brain bulldozer," said LeBlanc.

Another counsellor, Sandy Watson, who also works with young people,
says more and more young people are talking about crystal meth than
ever before.

"More young people are being exposed to it. They may see it being used
at parties," she said.

One troubling aspect of meth use is that younger girls regard it as a
way to lose weight. That's because its properties are akin to the
popular diet pills of years back.

But Watson also said young people regard crystal meth as a "dirty"
drug, because of the kind of chemicals used in its manufacture in
underground labs.

Instead they prefer Ritalin, a common prescription narcotic given to
students who have attention deficit disorders or other afflictions
that make it hard for them to concentrate. It has some of the same
stimulating properties as crystal meth.

"They think Ritalin is the better drug. It's accessible and they can
get it at school," said Watson.

Students who buy Ritalin illegally typically grind it up and inhale it
in a method known as "huffing."

Watson said some students will fake symptoms in hopes they'll be
prescribed Ritalin for re-sale. It can be bought for as little as $5 a
pill. "Or if they have a prescription they may say they lost it so
they can get it refilled and accumulate it," she added.

The counsellors said drug use in young people crosses all economic,
ethnic, racial or income levels and that no school is immune to its
effects.

They recommend parents work hard at communicating with their children,
starting as early as Grade 3 or 4.

"It could even be something as basic as 'if you find some pills, what
do you do with them,'" said Watson.

"With children, it is about education at a young age. It's about
making good choices and appropriate choices," she said.

Northwest Addictions Services does provide speakers and information
for schools and community groups. It also has a youth drama group
available for performances.