METH PROBLEM HITS LOCAL TEENS

Teens Talk About Drug Use In The Community

Mayerthorpe Freelancer - Crystal methamphetamine is emerging as the
drug of choice for many local teens.

One teenager projected that as many as 30 percent of teens and young
adults in the area use. "It's really scary."

She outwardly expressed her fears about drug use in the
community.

"You go to a party and everyone is using. A lot of people are getting
into it and if it's not meth or speed it's something else. I mean,
it's like, you go to a party and it's always there."

She has watched as a number of her friends become increasingly reliant
on meth. "All types of people are getting into this, kids coming from very
good families."

Most adolescents would agree that methamphetamine abuse is
widespread.

"For this town, [meth use] ya' fore sure, it's crazy, said one
19-year-old teenager.

He says he doesn't use meth but can easily name 20 - 30 people off the
top of his head that do.

"No problem."

But while he agrees that meth use is far-reaching he doesn't feel it's
as popular as other drugs such as pot and alcohol.

"I know more potheads," he admits.

Nonetheless, he said he would have no problem "scoring" meth if he
wanted to. "Oh ya.' one phone call, done."

Most teens are apprehensive when talking about drug use.

However, one young man did admit he uses meth a few times a year - his
friends would argue it's more like three times per week.

He says he likes the euphoric high it gives him.

"It makes you awake, happy but in a giddy way. You feel like you're in
a different world with no worries about anything.You can talk about
stuff you can't when you're sober."

The blue-eyed teen says he often buys off dealers from Drayton Valley
or Edson.

He will spend around $60.00 per gram, $30.00 for a half.

"It looks like a white powder but it's clear, say. like a little small
pieces of ice cube."

He says you can snort it like cocaine but he prefers to smoke
it.

"It's a better rush."

Like most users, he smokes using a broken light bulb.

"But you can also use a piece of mirror or glass.Then you heat it with
a lighter up until it turns into a little puddle," he explains.

Once the substance starts to burn the user will inhale the smoke with
a 'tooter.' usually an empty pen casing or a drinking straw.

One young teenage interviewed was 15 year old and used meth on the
weekends.

"[I use] because my friends do it and it's fun - an easy way to loose
weight," she said shyly.

She manages to afford the drug by babysitting combined with money her
parents give her.

When asked if she was addicted he relied, "maybe."

"You do it and you remember the feeling so it doesn't take much to
talk me into doing it again."

She said she might noy be so inclined to use meth if there was more to
do around town.

It seem many adolescents have had varying experiences with
meth.

Currently, it's largely unknown how widespread meth use is in the
Mayerthorpe community.

Local RCMP where largely unavailable for comment on the issue but did
say meth use is a problem in the entire region.

"It's starting to hit home," said Const. Clayton Seguin at a recent
MHS parent council meeting. "It's becoming more prevalent in areas we
police."

One thing that is clear is that the drug has gained a higher profile
in the region and is demanding more and more attention from community
leaders

"This crystal meth stuff is terrifying," said local Trustee Maureen
Wilcox. "The community as a whole needs to deal with this."

The Town of Mayerthorpe has also broached the issue and elected to
offer seminars in the spring, hoping to raise awareness and give
citizens information.

They hope it will make a dent in an underground problem that is
surfacing more and more in Mayerthorpe.

Methamphetamine is a stimulant. It is a synthetic drug that has a high
potential for abuse and dependence. It is commonly sold in pill form,
capsules, powder and chunks.

The drug is referred to by many names including meth, speed, crank,
and cristy. Pure methamphetamine hydrochloride, the smokeable form of
the drug, is called L.A or - because of its clear, chunky crystals
which resemble frozen water - ice, crystal, 64 glass or quartz.

It can be locally made in a makeshift "lab" or imported.

The cost varies according to several factors, including purity of the
drug and the region in which it is sold. The approximate price is $50
- -$80 per gram.