'WASTED ANGELS'

Theatre Production Tells Story Of Survival

COLD LAKE -- A stylistic drama, "Wasted Angels", told the story of Kyle, a
teenager who lived the good life until he decided to give crystal meth a try.

The production was put on by Multi-Youth Productions, a volunteer drama
troupe from Stony Plain. The actors ranged in age from 12-18. Grade 7-10
students from area schools watched one of two performances held at Grand
Centre High School last Thursday.

They learned that crystal meth is a combination of household products,
easily accessible. Youths can concoct their own variation of the drug with
ease -- and either though consumption, injection or smoking the product --
can elevate dopamine levels in their brain.

Upon trying crystal meth the first time, the chance of addiction is 58 per
cent. Trying it a second time, the chance of addiction is between 80-90 per
cent. Once addicted, the chances of ever kicking the habit are an estimated
six per cent.

The set was very simple, with few props and few distractions, all of the
actors wearing black shirts and blue jeans.

The play told the story of Kyle, a popular teenager with status, many
friends, respected by his peers, and found attractive to most girls his age.

Then he tried crystal meth, and everything changed.

At first, Kylie discovered that taking crystal meth gave him increased
energy and endurance, which helped him do more homework and housework. But
then his downward spiral began, as he stopped showing up for work, stole
money from his mother's purse to feed his addiction, got sickly thin, and
turned violent with his girlfriend.

Deeper into the drug lifestyle, his friends found him sleeping near a bus
station. He was beat up, broke, and ruined.

His friends and family tried helping him, but with the grip of crystal meth
too tight, their advice was not enough to help him overcome his addiction.

Kyle's best friend Zack found him dead in his bedroom one morning. His
heart stopped from an overdose of crystal meth. He was 17, another wasted
angel.