DRUG STORES MOVE POTENTIAL METH MIX BEHIND THE COUNTER

Blossoming Use Of Speed Drug Not A Big Concern In Banff

Banff Crag & Canyon -- Albertans will have to look behind the
pharmacists' counters from now on when purchasing decongestants such
as Sudafed.

The Alberta government took this action because the drugs, also known
as pseudoephedrines, are one of the main ingredients used in crystal
meth, an illegal street drug. Although there are many drugs
circulating around Banff, authorities say that crystal meth is not
one of the most prominently used drugs locally.

Albertans will now have to ask the pharmacists to hand them the drugs
rather than pick them off the shelves themselves.

Decongestants will be joining other drugs that contain codeine
products and Gravol, explained Peter Eshenko, a pharmacist at
Gourlay's Pharmacy in Banff.

"People have to buy mass quantities," to make crystal meth, Eshenko
said. "If someone asked for 12 boxes, I would be suspicious."

Should that occur, Eshenko said, "I would deny sale."

Sgt. Wayne Wiebe of the Banff RCMP said he saw many cases involving
the drug in Saskatoon where he worked previously, but couldn't say
there were any specific cases of the drug being found in Banff.

"I've suspected that some of the people I've dealt with have been on
meth," said Wiebe, because of their "reaction to pain, or their attitude."

"It's not prevalent in Banff," Wiebe said.

Spencer Schneider is the area supervisor at the Alberta Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Commission in Canmore. He agrees that "wherever you can
take away the proximity it makes it more difficult" for people to get
their hands on the drug.

"Fewer people will use it," he admitted, although he said he has not
seen many cases of crystal meth addiction either.

"In the Bow Valley I haven't been seeing many cases," said Schneider,
who mainly deals with alcohol, cocaine and marijuana addictions.

"(Crystal meth) is very sporadic; it's relatively rare (in the Bow
Valley)," Schneider explained, although he admitted that there is a
possibility that many cases are not referred to AADAC.

"Some people might go back to their hometown for treatment,"
Schneider said, "but in the resident population, there are no spikes
that I see."

Lisa Davey, training and development co-ordinator at the Banff
Service Industry Network, said she has witnessed many cases of drug
abuse in Banff, but none involving crystal meth.

"The drug hasn't entered into the community in any big way," said
Davey, who explained that crystal meth is much more common in large cities.

"I guess that there isn't a market here for it," she said. "I think
it has a bad rap."

Davey explained that many of the people who come to Banff don't come
from big cities and therefore have not been exposed to it before coming here.

"I haven't seen anyone come forward with a serious addiction (to
crystal meth)," said Davey. "I've mainly only seen alcohol and cocaine abuse."

Crystal meth is an addictive drug made up of small white crystals. It
can be either inhaled, smoked or injected. Aside from
pseudoephedrines, other ingredients include household products such
as iodine, ammonia, paint thinner and lithium from batteries, among others.

People who use the drug feel an initial intense effect, and a high
that can last up to 12 hours. The drug affects the brain and can be
extremely harmful in the long run.

Effects include rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, and brain
damage. Use of the drug can cause hypothermia, convulsions and death.

Individuals on the drug can also experience violent behaviour,
paranoia, anxiety, confusion and insomnia.According to Wiebe, users
of crystal meth are "not hard to recognize," because the drug affects
their physical appearance as well.

"Over a short period of time, a person who uses crystal meth ages
quickly," Wiebe said. "There are visible effects to the skin."

Wiebe said that crystal meth is extremely addictive, leading to other
potential crimes.

"(Users) will do anything to get the drug."

Although it is not common in Banff, Wiebe suspects that more cases
could arise in the future.

"It's just a matter of time before it gets here," said Wiebe.

The government of Alberta, however, hopes that putting one of its
main ingredients behind counters at drugs stores will help avoid that.