CRYS METH A GROWING PROBLEM

Sherwood Park News - A recent report out of the metro-Edmonton area
indicates the problem of methamphetamines (crystal meth) addiction is being
blown out of proportion.

Another report from the RCMP 'K' Division, however, relates that crystal
meth is the emerging number one drug problem around the world, surpassing
cocaine in many jurisdictions. It also states crystal meth as being
described as "epidemic proportions" in the U.S.

Alberta RCMP files dealing with trafficking of methamphetamines have
increased from 13 in 1998 to 164 in 2002, with the majority of the files,
151, opened in Northern Alberta.

Responses to a personal meth addiction story in the Feb. 18 issue of the
Sherwood Park News, reveal the problem does indeed exist, and maybe to more
of a degree than the public wants to admit.

Letters have been received with similar heart-breaking stories from
families living with an addict.

The people who have written to the News want to remain anonymous, but they
want the message that more treatment centres are necessary, to get out.
From their experiences, they have found that not enough facilities exist
to deal with what appears to be a growing problem.

So what do their stories have in common? Good kids, by all accounts, with
families who care about them. Kids who may have just been experimenting and
very easily become addicted to a drug known for its highly addictive nature.

A common thread with these individual stories are families living, or
having lived, through a nightmare; wondering each day if they would soon be
burying their child. Finding help has been difficult for the families, but
some have been successful and encourage others to keep at it until they to,
find a way to help their children. One mother encouraged the parent in the
News story to call all of the rehabilitation centers until the answers are
found.

A couple of cases involve children who have already reached the age of
majority and have been lucky enough to be admitted to an adult facility for
treatment.

One parent related that it was hard to get the necessary rehabilitation for
her now 20-year-old daughter, but the girl herself finally found a 19-day
live-in program. This parent feels "the word needs to be spread. The
problem is getting worse and more resources and facilities need to be
available. The drug is moving much too quickly for the resources that are
currently in place."

The family went through a frightening year where months elapsed between the
time they saw their daughter, and then, when they did, they could hardly
even recognize her.

This mother says that although seeing more and more articles on the meth
explosion are frightening, they are beneficial. "We cannot stop the problem
if we are not aware that it is out there or remain in a state if denial.
Tough love is very necessary, and definitely one of the hardest things for
us to do as a parent. But we must also continually remind them that we have
unconditional love for them."

Another parent has her child on the road to recovery, but had to go through
the frustrations of finding help.

A successful treatment centre in Calgary which requires relocation and a
time commitment of up to a year, was seriously considered.

"We definitely need one of that calibre in Edmonton/Sherwood Park," she
commented.

This family eventually found assistance from Alberta Mental Health in
Sherwood Park. The family had to sign over their rights to child social
services so their son could be admitted to the YYC.

"We have no rights as parents. We know our children are hurting themselves
but we can't hold them," she said.

Social services provided a person round-the-clock in the family home to
ensure her son didn't leave and so that he could detox at home.

Her son has now been clean for a number of months, and she appeals to other
parents that "it's a hard journey, but please don't turn your backs on
these kids, they can't do it on their own."