SPEED USE ON RISE, CITY DRUG COPS SAY

Use of speed, "the drug of the new millennium," may skyrocket here, as it
has in U.S. cities, London police warn.

A bust last week of the potent street drug, worth $36,000, is just a
fraction of what goes through this city, a drug squad officer says.

"Whereas crack was the drug of the '90s, speed has been called the drug of
the new millennium," said a London drug squad officer, who can't be
identified because he works undercover.

"It looks like we're going to have a much larger problem with speed in the
future if the trend continues."

Speed, a methamphetamine called crank in the U.S. and whip on London's
streets, is a highly addictive drug that can be made anywhere, which could
fuel its popularity.

"Crack cocaine has to be brought in from other countries. Methamphetamine
can be made anywhere if you have the recipe," the drug squad officer said.

Const. Paul Martin said the concern is speed will go the way of crack and
it's just as destructive.

"Crack started out in 1992-93 as a small cell. Within a year or so, it just
mushroomed," he said. "When you look at the U.S., that's what's happened
with speed and there's every indication that speed will do the same thing
here."

Unlike crack, which requires imported cocaine, the ingredients of speed are
readily available and it's legal to have them in Canada. It's only illegal
to have the finished product.

And finding the finished product is tough for police.

"Methamphetamine users are a tight-knit community. One of the side-effects
is that it makes you very paranoid," the drug officer said. "They're
hypersensitive to new people."

"London's drug unit makes dozens of crack purchases each year. We've only
made one methamphetamine purchase in the last three years . . . They know
each other. There are very few dealers and it's difficult to penetrate,"
the undercover officer said.

But police are doing what they can to combat the problem, Martin said.

"We're using information from informants and trying to infiltrate the
methamphetamine community."

A methamphetamine user is usually skinny, has sunken eyes and looks "like
the walking dead," the drug squad officer said.

An average speed addict will have a $300-a-day habit, while a heavy user
will spend $500 a day. Speed sells for about $1,300 an ounce, while crack
rings in at $1,100 an ounce.

Speed addicts usually mix the white powder with sterile water, heat it in a
spoon and then inject it. People who use speed say it gives them a rush, or
a feeling of euphoria.

"It's similar to crack. Most methamphetamine users have a very tough time
kicking the habit. They often have to use methadone programs to curb the
addiction," the drug officer said.

"The biggest problem is it's made by backyard chemists."

Speed is usually cut with a sugar substance, but can be cut with anything
- -- including battery acid.

The pricey addiction also leads users to commit other crimes.

"They'll commit numerous crimes to feed their addiction," he said.

Linda Sibley-Bowers, executive director of Alcohol and Drug Services of
Thames Valley, said they see speed users, but haven't seen an increase.

"The treatment system often lags behind the level of use on the street."