WE KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM

Editorial

Methamphetamine is a problem - not just in Hinton, but throughout central
Alberta.

We've seen first hand evidence of that fact in our town, and the efforts of
the Hinton Drug Action Committee are commendable. We encourage all
Hintonites to pay attention and learn what they can from the HDAC's
door-to-door canvassers in coming weeks.

But we must also act on the information we receive, without action the
knowledge we gain means little. As part of that action we encourage the
public to bring this problem to the attention of the provincial government.

It is encouraging to see that Edson, Drayton Valley and Yellowhead County
municipal governments are recognizing the problem, but the problem
encompasses more than just the Yellowhead region.

According to statistics compiled by the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Commission (AADAC), 60 per cent of kids involved in intensive drug rehab
programs are meth addicts. That is up from 20-30 per cent three years ago.

That is a scary increase, but it's easy to see why meth use is rising among
youth - it's cheap and it's accessible.

Meth use by any group of people does nothing to benefit our community. But
increasing usage by young people is particularly disturbing, as it damages
the brain permanently.

Meth releases high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which
stimulates brain cells, enhancing mood and body movement. It also has a
neurotoxic effect, damaging brain cells that contain dopamine and
serotonin, another neurotransmitter. Dopamine and serotonin containing
neurons do not die after methamphetamine use, but their nerve endings are
cut back and re-growth is limited. Over time, methamphetamine causes
reduced levels of dopamine, which can result in symptoms like those of
Parkinson's disease, a severe movement disorder.

If we as a society are going to make every effort to stops kids from
smoking - because its bad for their health - we have no choice but to do
the same when it comes to meth.

- -N.A.