SCHOOLS CRANKED UP TO TACKLE CRYSTAL METH

Last year, a 14-year-old Peninsula girl tried crystal meth for the
first time at a party. She didn't come home for a week.

Last month, a 15-year-old Surrey boy who uses drugs recreationally
experimented with the same. His family hasn't seen him for two weeks.

Such is the nature of the beast parents, police, and school districts
are dealing with.

Crystal meth can hook users with just one dose. It's made from
household items-drain cleaners and ammonias-stimulating areas of the
brain that regulate pleasure.

It increases wakefulness and physical activity, and decreases
appetite. It rots the teeth and causes a sensation like bugs crawling
on skin. It's one of the most versatile drugs on the market-crushed
into a powder, it can be snorted, smoked in a pipe, injected or swallowed.

Its presence on the Peninsula is raising concern. There's even greater
fear of the long-term implications. The fear is it will be "a lot
worse" than ecstasy, where damage has been seen six or seven years
later. Crystal meth is so new, research can't keep pace with its popularity.

"There's more crystal meth out there than there is information,"
Surrey's safe schools manager Theresa Campbell said.

"Kids are not making informed decisions, because I know we don't have
the information out there."

In an effort to "take whatever means possible," this summer, Campbell
is among a team hoping to add crystal meth to school liaison officers'
Grade 6 substance abuse program, and as a component to substance-use
curriculum for Grade 4-7s.

Campbell promised more public forums on the issue. In May, two were
held at Elgin Park and Semiahmoo secondary schools.

A forum is booked for Oct. 20 at Bell Centre, where plans include
busing elementary students in for the morning, speaking to secondary
students in the afternoon, then opening to parents in the evening.

The forum will cover drugs as a whole, with a focus on crystal meth.

Campbell hopes to have parents dealing with crystal meth in their
homes share their experiences.

As safe schools manager, Campbell is hearing of more and more
situations involving students and the substance. In recent months, six
cases have come her way.

"It hasn't come to the point yet where we have a problem with crystal
meth in our schools. We have a problem with crystal meth in our
students," Campbell said.

"As much as I'd like to say we can beat this thing, I'm not sure that
we can..."

Drug expert Cpl. Scott Rintoul agreed with the urgency.

"Are we concerned? Very much so. It is a very, very problematic type
of drug," he told parents at the Semi forum.

Known as ice, glass, crank, zip, shards, and Tina, crystal meth is
easy to use, with effects that last two to 10 times longer than
cocaine, at 75 per cent of the price. The psychosis associated with it
is "out of control," Rintoul said.

Research in Vancouver shows an association between high-risk sexual
activity and crystal meth. There's been an "alarming" increase in the
number of overdose deaths due to crystal meth-from 12 in 2003 to 12
already this year.

Rintoul said it's important to recognize the signs of drug use.

Those on crystal meth will have large pupils, and often grind their
teeth. Their appetite will diminish, as will the need for sleep.
Behaviour changes are another indicator.

Rintoul said parents teaching children the dangers of drug use from an
early age is crucial.

"'Just say no' doesn't work. I've been saying it, 'know'," Rintoul said.

"You are the number one prevention program for your children. It
begins at age zero."