NEW DRUG OF CHOICE DANGEROUS, ADDICTIVE

The spread locally of crystal methamphetamine is causing concern among
police and drug addiction counsellors.

"It's a very, very dangerous drug," said Cpl. Scott Rintoul, of the RCMP
Drug Awareness Section, E Division.

Use of the drug initially popular in the gay community is rising across all
sections of society, he said.

The exact number of local users is unknown, but available statistics show
an increase, said Jeanni Jones, agency director of Pathways: Addictions
Resource Centre.

Pathways did not start seeing crystal meth users for treatment until 1999,
she said. The number of cases has since gone up from three in 1999 to six
in 2000, 24 in 2001, 35 in 2002 and 52 through the first 10 months of 2003,
said Jones.

Crystal meth - which can be consumed orally, injected or smoked - is pure
stimulation, said Rintoul.

Those who use crystal meth in small amounts experience a "tingling" feeling
similar to being excited or having a "crush" on somebody, said Danny
Highley, a Pathways counsellor.

"In large amounts ... the rush you get is extremely pleasurable," he said.

That feeling can last for up to 10 hours, he said.

But the after-effects of crystal meth use are devastating, Highley said.

They can include rapid weight loss, extreme paranoia and hallucinations.
Users start constructing elaborate scenarios that makes them lose touch
with reality, said Highley. And the damage caused can be in some cases
permanent, said Rintoul.

"Methamphetamine is neuro-toxic to the point where people do develop
psychotic disorders as a result," he said.

What worries Rintoul is the availability of crystal meth. Only a few items
readily available at hardware stores are needed to produce it, he said.
"It's a relatively easy process," he said.

And because it is easy to produce, crystal meth is cheap. For about $10,
users can secure a "hit" that lasts for several hours, said Jones.
Controlling the spread of crystal meth may be difficult because of its
ingredients, said Rintoul.

"There is no control we can put on because the chemicals required we use
every day."

Parents, however, can play a role in limiting the spread of crystal meth
among young people by talking to their children about drugs and recognizing
physical effects such as weight loss, he said.