METH - NOT YOUR PROBLEM?

Meth is not a benign substance that only teenagers try. It is not a drug you
will see a national leader talking about as something he or she experimented
with when they were young and naive. Meth hooks its users fast and the
effects of the addiction infiltrate every aspect of the meth user's life.

The first try

Often we have a hard time believing we are not in control. Despite
having good jobs, or a great education, logical, smart people will try
meth, believing they will use it for a short time. Just long enough to
get them through.

Professionals, like Kathy Follett, facility manager of the Hinton
General Hospital and Bob Lyons, manager of Community Mental Health,
will tell you that meth does not discriminate when choosing its victims.

Sometimes hectic work schedules will make someone so tired that the
initial effects of meth will help them function. Others may try meth
to deal with anxiety or in coping with depression. Then there are
those that just try it for the high.

"Don't believe that meth is one little problem, it creeps into all
aspects of one's life - family, employment, etc," said Follett.

In the long run it doesn't matter why someone tries meth. The
addiction rate for meth is extremely high and meth is cheap, easily
available and easy to abuse.

Not just an addict's problem

The symptoms of meth have been well documented and circulated
throughout the community of Hinton. You may know that meth addicts
start to become paranoid and violent as the drug takes over their
life. You may also know that meth addicts stop eating properly and
will begin to lose weight, and long time users beginning to grow sores
on their skin. But have you thought about the other victims of meth?

"Meth use is a community problem and it belongs to everyone that lives
here. We all need to be part of the solution, because meth hurts,"
said Follett.

It's easy to think that meth does not effect you. Maybe you don't know
anyone directly who has used the substance. But what about those in
this community that have tried it.

That guy that used it last night to get through his shift and is now
driving home the same time you drive your kids to school. What about
the truck driver who took meth to stay awake to make a deadline who is
now in front of you on the Yellowhead? What about the driller who
works on a rig next to your son or daughter, far out in the bush where
it may be difficult to get emergency responders quickly. And the used
needles that have been found in phone booths around town, do they not
effect you?

People who try meth are not jobless, single people without families
who are sequestered to one part of town. Meth users may be where you
least expect them, and they can effect you whether you believe it or
not.

Those on the front line

Some users of meth find their life gets turned upside down because of
the drug. Others will loose their job and become a pariah to their own
family and friends. Many meth users turn to crime to support their
habit.

Police are often put at risk when dealing with meth addicts. Exposure
to used needles, that are sometimes infected with serious diseases, is
always a concern. The violent nature of meth users is also an
opportunity for police to become endangered. Then there are those
users that end up in the hospital.

After using a bad batch of meth, or underestimating the dosage they
have given themselves, meth users will find themselves in the
emergency ward in a very out of control state. Hospital staff are then
subject to a meth addict's violence and paranoia. Diseases like
hepatitis are often transferred from one meth user to the next through
needle sharing. Those health care professionals involved in the
treatment of patients who are in an out of control state are now
placing their own health and safety at risk to help the addict.

Fixing the problem

"For a community of this size we have a lot of services available to
help," said Lyons.

The process of helping a meth user is not an easy one. The addicts
must choose between the drug or getting help.

"The addicts of meth, experience a high probability of relapse",
explains Follett. "Because we are human beings the path of less
resistance sometimes is chosen over and over again - the drug wins.
Let's not be fooled - It takes a phenomenal amount of courage,
determination and stamina to overcome an addiction. There is an old
saying 'we may not win the battle but we can win the war.'"

Meth users need to know that despite relapses they shouldn't give up -
try again tomorrow - there is help and support available. Once a meth
abuser has entered into rehabilitation a multidisciplinary team, which
may include representation from AADAC, Community Mental Health, social
workers, nursing, doctors, pastoral care, just to name a few, will
come together to help address an individual's needs in dealing with
their addiction.