INCREASED ENERGY, CHANGES IN SLEEP PATTERNS COMMON SIGNS OF USE

Methamphetamine use is on the rise among youth, according to police.

"We're experiencing a marked increase in usage both among school-aged kids
and older kids," says Port Moody Police Const. Brian Soles. "It's becoming
a drug of choice. The problem is that it is very addictive, it's a
stimulant and you get much lower lows than you do with other drugs and the
propensity for violence is way higher than it is with coke or heroin use."

Teens using the drug are also risking exposure to other substances.

"They're not selective about what they put in the drugs when they mix, so
basically there's no Better Business Bureau for drug users," Soles says.
"And commonly what they're doing is lacing ecstasy with crystal meth.

"Beginning with the marijuana issue and going up, there's so much junk
being offered to kids out there on the street, and they've got no way of
knowing what it is or what it's going to do to them."

Methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, ice and crank, is not a new
drug, Soles said, but it is experiencing a resurgence in popularity.

"Meth has been moving up from California for the last 10 years," Soles
says. "There are a lot more problems in Washington State - significantly
more than they've had in the past. It's moved steadily north and we knew
this was coming for some time, and it's arrived."

The increasing presence of meth, Soles says, also results in an increase in
related crime.

"Obviously a proportional increase in crime with meth users trying to
maintain their habits," Soles said.

"Theft from autos, stolen stereos or anything they can get their next fix
with."

Soles said it wouldn't surprise him to hear that dealers are giving away
meth for free to teens to get them hooked.

"Because if you can get somebody hooked on it, then you've got a market,"
Soles said.

Signs that a teen may be using methamphetamines include weight loss or a
loss in appetite, increased energy, irregular sleep patterns, loss in
motivation and a change in priorities or friends.

"Those that sort of get into the party scene or end up binging on this
drug, they'll be up for four or five days and then all of sudden they'll
sleep for two or three non-stop," says Cpl. Scott Rintoul, a drug awareness
officer with the RCMP.

"So a parent who has a kid who hasn't been around for three or four days
all of a sudden shows up and sleeps for two or three days - that's a problem."

Rintoul says changes in a teen's behaviour may simply be related to going
through adolescence - parents just need to be observant.

He says parents need to arm themselves with information about
methamphetamine and other drugs and talk about it with their children.

"I think if parents suspect any drug activity, whether it be alcohol or
tobacco or marijuana, they should attempt to intervene right now and talk
about it, become knowledgeable."

Although prevention is key, Rintoul says, intervention is also important.

"If any parent believes their child is in a stage of drug use, do not sit
back and wait till they reach bottom, because unfortunately, some kids
don't reach bottom - they die.

"If parents believe they need some assistance, they've got to seek it out."