NEW DRUG TRENDS EMERGING

Shocking new drug use trends are emerging in Alberta and Western
Canada as a whole. Retired detective sergeant and best selling author
Steve Walton spoke Tuesday morning at Medicine Hat College about the
disturbing new drugs and methods popping up.

Walton served on the drug force unit for 10 years and was involved in
as many as 800 undercover drug operations in southern Alberta. He
spoke to a crowd largely made up of college students studying in
related fields. He felt it was important for these "young
professionals" to know about the changing face of drugs in order to
better prepare themselves for what they will likely encounter.

A major future trend noticed in law enforcement circles is the
migration of sophisticated drug criminals leaving the urban settings
of Calgary and Edmonton and filtering out into smaller centres.

"They're bringing the drug culture to smaller areas. Places like
Medicine Hat are definitely starting to feel the impact of this," said
Walton.

The average age of drug users is declining. Walton said the youngest
drug addict he's ever seen was eight years old and had been smoking
crack cocaine for more than a year.

"Those of you studying addictions counselling or things like that will
start seeing a lot of your clients coming in under the age of 18,"
said Walton.

Although the top five social drugs include the more common marijuana,
cocaine, heroin and crystal meth, gaining popularity among drug users
is cough syrup and pharmaceutical drugs such as Ritalin and morphine.
These substances are "legal, relatively cheaper and create a
heroin-like high."

Drugs popular among young teenagers and college students including
ecstasy and ketamine - also known as Special K or Vitamin K - produce
long-lived hallucinogenic highs. They also increase one's blood
pressure, heart rate, body temperature and produce severe muscle
contractions.

Getting "wet" is a street term for marijuana or tobacco cigarettes
dipped in pure formaldehyde and dried. Smoking these cigarettes poses
quite a challenge for law enforcement officers hoping to apprehend
such individuals. Those who are on the high it produces experience
"increased pain tolerance, are very angry and feel
invincible."

"That makes our job very tough," said Walton.

Adding to the danger and risks to users is the emerging trend of
mixing drugs together. As many as 50 percent of crystal meth users
admit they knowingly take a second drug at the same time.