STUDENTS MAKE METH PRESENTATION TO EIPS

Sherwood Park News - Four students from Sherwood Heights junior high school
came before the Elk Island Public School board last week with an
informative presentation on crystal meth addiction.

Members of the school's leadership group, Rachelle Miller, Karla Gjini,
Mandi Brosseau, and Katie Satchwell along with principal Frank Belyea and
RCMP Cst. Canning, displayed to the trustees what they have been doing this
year to help educate fellow students.

Belyea informed the board that a total of 10 students at Sherwood Heights
have been identified as being addicted to crystal meth between the last
school year and the current term.

"In 10 weeks you can 100 per cent lose a student to full addiction; brain
damage," he said. "My goal is not to lose any more."

At this point it's 10 out of 640 students, but the potential for more is there.

"It's highly addictive, easily purchased and common with pushers in
Sherwood Park," Belyea stated, adding it's amazing how quickly meth has
infiltrated Sherwood Park.

The four students proceeded with a condensed version of the information
they, and 10 others in the leadership group, display during their half-hour
presentations. So far they have done 15 classes at Sherwood Heights and
have another 15 more to do.

They noted how addictive crystal meth is, with 46 per cent of users
becoming addicted on the first try, 92 per cent by the second time, and
full addiction by the third.

Facts on what the drug does to the body, what it looks like, its effects,
and ingredients which include such toxic substances such as brake fluid,
drain cleaner and battery acid, were laid before the board.

For some long-term users, meth re-crystallizes in their bodies causing
sores which the user picks at, often down to the bone. Some desperate users
may then smoke the re-crystallized meth to get high again, they related.

The group indicated that when asking Grade 7 students if they knew of
anyone dabbling with drugs or taking meth, a couple of hands go up; in
Grade 8, about half the class responds; and by Grade 9 almost everyone
seems to know of someone who is using drugs.

Belyea concluded their presentation by commending the local RCMP for the
relationships they keep with students, and the student leadership group.

"The strongest influence on students is other students," he said.