Students see why meth is a killer
Date: Saturday, November 29 @ 16:38:21 PST
Topic: Crystal Meth Society


Comox Valley Echo: Tue. Nov. 25, 2008

The images were shocking--skinny wasted bodies covered in scabs and rotten teeth combined with the grotesque movements and tortured reckonings of the living damned.

But the images from the film Death by Jib were effective in getting through to students at Lake Trail Senior Thursday (Nov. 20), students who couldn't seem to get their questions out fast enough after the presentation, given by the Victoria-based Crystal Meth Society of B.C. (CMBC), was over.

"What have you got in your life now that has value?" asked Mark McLaughlin, CMBC president. "What have you got in your life that you don't want to lose--mom and dad, brother and sister, sports team, hopes, dreams, goals?

"Crystal meth can reach in and take all of that away from you. Crystal meth robs people of everything that they have."

McLaughlin and his wife became reluctant experts on the subject of methamphetamine, also known as ice, crystal, crank, tina or jib, when their daughter became addicted two years ago and finding a need for resources, along with other members, they formed the society.

Last week McLaughlin gave a presentation to Grade 9 students at Mark R. Isfeld, Highland Secondary, Cumberland Junior and Lake Trail Secondary as well as to members of the public Thursday evening.

"Twenty-five per cent say they know someone who is meth-involved," said McLaughlin. "Ninety-five per cent say they will never try meth after watching this show."

Often difficult to watch, Death by Jib shows a number of addicts living on Vancouver's Lower East-side who all agree that the best way to quit meth is to never try the toxic drug in the first place.

One particularly poignant moment came when Kerry J. replayed a final answering machine message from her formerly attractive and healthy 26-year-old son, Ryan. The sounds that emanated from the machine brought to mind images of Dante's Inferno.

A few weeks later, Ryan swan-dived off the Cambie Street Bridge in Vancouver

Meth is made from inexpensive over the counter ingredients such as pseudoephedrine, iodine, ammonia, acetone and furniture refinisher, most of them contain warning like: extremely flammable, poisonous, do not swallow and explosive when mixed improperly.

"Crystal meth generates five kilograms of toxic waste for every kilogram of the street drug," said McLaughlin. "That toxic waste could be flipped over someone's back fence, maybe yours, or dumped in the lake or lagoon or the river or the seashore and pollute the environment."

During his presentation, McLaughlin showed a picture of the brain of a healthy 27-year-old and compared it to that of a meth-addicted 27-year-old. The meth-addicted brain is comparable to that of an 85-year-old suffering from Altzheimer's disease, he said.

Crystal meth drives up blood pressure and raises body temperature so that the brain is essentially being "fried."

"In Victoria we have 20-year-olds having open heart surgery," said McLaughlin.

Patti Vermette, district youth care support worker based out of Lake Trail, applied to bring the program to schools in the Valley and Courtenay's Community Drug Strategy Committee agreed to provide the funding.

Grade 9 students are ideal for receiving the program, she said.

"The average age [of addiction] is around 13 or 14," she said. "This is an age where a lot more experimentation goes on and if we can get that message out early enough, hopefully the kids will make the choice to say no to crystal meth."

The session, that ended with questions and answers and those who participated received either a wristband or a T-shirt, will be followed-up with classroom discussions and contests to further students' knowledge about drugs.

The effects of crystal meth can be irreversible and McLaughlin tells people who ask about his daughter that she is holding down a job and he doesn't believe she could do that if she were using. He states," She is doing better than before."

CMBC is currently looking for volunteers in a number of positions as well as for presenters.

For more information, call Lynda Scott-Polson or April Haussmann at 250-388-6384, or visit www.crystalmethbc.com.

EARLY SIGNS OF CRYSTAL METH USE:

- Euphoric state, - Paranoia, - Decreased appetite
- Increased physical activity, - Anxiety, - Shaking,
- nervousness, - Incessant talking, - Rapid eye movement
- Dilated pupils, - Sweating not related to physical activity
- Not socializing with friends anymore
- Trying to convince others to use the drug
- Selling personal items, - Experiencing trouble at school





This article comes from CrystalMethBC - Meth Information Website
http://crystalmethbc.com

The URL for this story is:
http://crystalmethbc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=278