Crystal Meth

11 . crystal meth

speed, meth, crank, crystal meth

Physical Effects: •Increased heart and respiratory rate •High blood pressure •Dizziness and blurred vision •Anxiety and restlessness •Decreased appetite

Mental & Emotional Effects: •High energy when on the drug, extremely low energy when coming down from the drug •Depression and irritability when withdrawing •Powerful urges to use the drug and extreme difficulty resisting use •Exhaustion

Signs of Use: •Excessive activity & movement •Talking a lot, arguing •Irritability, paranoia, nervousness •Noticable weight loss & sleeplessness •Euphoria

A Crystal Meth can only be described as intense. The high itself made me full of energy and gave me a sense of confidence that lasted for hours and hours. But when I continued using it, I’d go into these rages. Everything irritated me, and I was really paranoid. Coming off that drug is brutal. I felt anxious and depressed – even suicidal. The people and places I encountered through using meth were really sketchy – in other words, not to be trusted and sometimes downright scary. I got myself into some risky situations. It took me a really long time to get my head straight after coming off meth after months of use.

Methamphetamines are stimulants that are similar to amphetamines and are becoming widely used by teenagers. Speed is one form of methamphetamine, and it can be swallowed in pill form, snorted or injected, and has a high that lasts from 2-4 hours. Crystal meth is sometimes injected, but it is usually snorted or smoked. Unlike speed, the high lasts from 4-14 hours and is highly addictive, both physically and psychologically. Crystal meth and speed are used to increase alertness, stay awake, feel stronger and more confident, and to create euphoric, “feel good,” effects. Like Austin, Hayley and Lisa have had similar experiences with crystal meth. Let’s hear what both girls have to say about the drug that, at one point, took over their lives.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the interviewees in the following script.

Hayley - “I’d never felt so happy, so powerful, and in control. I had a crazy sense of freedom and energy when I used. The best part was the sense of community and the feeling of being a part of one big happy family. Even once we moved to the street, I felt a sense of meaning and purpose. I felt amazingly good…until I started coming down.”

Hayley was in the eleventh grade at the time. She had been doing ecstasy at raves, but was getting tired of some of ecstasy’s side effects, especially the depression and fatigue. She hadn’t really thought much about crystal meth, until one night when she was hanging out with friends and it was offered to her. Hayley - “It was the first time I’d ever seen it, or heard about it. Since I’ve never been afraid to try anything, I took some. From then on, I used it every day. It was cheaper than anything else, the high lasted longer, and it was easy to get. I was hooked.” Lisa, on the other hand, was in the eighth grade and living in a small town. She was smoking weed so much that she wasn’t getting stoned from it anymore. One day she saw her older sister and her boyfriend smoking crystal meth. Lisa - “They were having a lot of fun… Grade eight was my worst year; I was having a really hard time. So, when I saw them happy… I figured I had nothing to lose. Like Hayley, I had never seen crystal meth, and didn’t even know what it was. Getting it every day wasn’t difficult since every high school has a couple of dealers, and just a few bucks will get you high.” Hayley – “At first crystal meth was wildly exciting. I felt free and untroubled. I felt like a different person when I was using – confident, sexy, and full of energy. But it wasn’t long until my love of meth took me to the streets of downtown Vancouver, since that’s where all the action was. Life on the streets meant no nagging parents, no homework and, most importantly, no boredom. But the fighting, stealing, and sexual assaults came along as part of the package, and by then I was already sucked into that scene. At the time, my parents were going through a divorce, and I couldn’t handle it anymore. So, I left. The street became my new home.” Austin – What finally ended it for you? Lisa - “The highs were becoming shorter and shorter and the lows were unbearable. I was anxious, depressed, and angry all the time. The only thing that could bring me out of it was more drugs. That was when I finally went to see a former teacher of mine who had expressed concern from the beginning. When I went to see her, I told her I was ready for her to help me. Shortly after that, I entered a residential treatment centre that helped me detox from the drug and stabilize. Afterwards, I moved to the city and started a day treatment program for youth who are overcoming substance

abuse.” Austin – How about you, Hayley?

Hayley – “Mine definitely felt more sudden. I got caught stealing and I spent five nights in the youth jail… That was the worst experience of my life. When I got out, I was set up with a probation officer who made drug and alcohol treatment a mandatory condition of my probation. I attended weekly counselling sessions and participated in the same day treatment program as Lisa. Through that I became aware of the destructive pattern of my drug use, and I decided to make some important changes in my life. At the same time, an important part of the counselling process has been family counselling. My parents and I had a lot of anger towards each other, and counselling has helped us work through that. We’re starting to understand how we can relate to one another with more respect and tolerance, and we’re learning to communicate without becoming hostile or freaking out… I’ve always been really independent and a total risk- taker; I like that quality in myself. But I realize, now, that I can find healthier ways to be that way.”

Lisa – “Ultimately, I believe if I had known more about crystal meth and its powerful effects, I wouldn’t have been so quick to try it. What about you, Hayley?”

Hayley – “Totally. I feel as though it’s our mission to inform and support other young people who are at risk of becoming heavily involved with drugs.”

Lisa - “The best way to treat serious drug use is to stop it before it starts.” healthyteens.ca

12 . alcohol & energy drinks

Mixing alcohol with energy drinks may seem like a great idea. After all, even though alcohol initially helps you to feel outgoing and boisterous, there is that inevitable point when you crash, and feel tired and lethargic. The stimulating qualities of an energy drink can counteract the fatigue and help you party all through the night. Sounds great!

A trend amongst partying youth is to mix an alcoholic beverage (vodka, rum, gin, etc.) with a commercial energy drink. You’ve probably seen energy drinks before. Most energy drinks are carbonated, and contain large amounts of caffeine and sugar. Some of the additional ingredients include B vitamins, amino acids such as taurine, and some include herbal stimulants such as guarana and ginseng. Energy drinks are marketed primarily to youth as a stimulant.

Effects on body & behaviour:

•Can boost heart rate & blood pressure, causing palpitations and other cardiac rhythm problems increases risk of:

•being hurt or injured •driving with an intoxicated driver •being taken advantage of another sexually

Alcohol, energy drinks and related heart problems: Combining alcohol and energy drinks can actually be dangerous and harmful. Energy drinks, either used as mixes or served on their own, initially feel like the perfect solution to perk up when that slow, sleepy, feeling sets in. However, when an energy drink is consumed along with alcohol, the high levels of caffeine in these drinks can boost heart rate and blood pressure, causing palpitations, according to the National Institute of Health in the U.S.A. Mixing these drinks with alcohol further increases the risk of heart rhythm problems.

“Energy drinks have a lot of stimulants in them like ginseng and taurine, while alcohol is a depressant; by mixing the two you’re sending mixed messages to your nervous system which can cause cardiac related problems,” Steve Clarke, director of the College Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center, explains.

Non medical problems: One major study conducted by researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine showed that students who mixed alcohol and energy drinks had double the risk of being hurt or injured, requiring medical attention, driving with an intoxicated driver, being taken advantage of sexually, or taking advantage of another sexually.

“Students whose motor skills, visual reaction times, and judgment are impaired by alcohol may not perceive that they are intoxicated as readily when they’re also ingesting a stimulant,” describes Mary Claire O’Brien, lead researcher. “Only the symptoms of drunkenness are reduced -- but not

the drunkenness. They can’t tell if they’re drunk; they can’t tell if someone else is drunk. So they get hurt, or they hurt someone else.” In other words, energy drinks can trick people into thinking they are more sober than they really are, when in actuality they are every bit as drunk - they just feel less drunk.

Sara, a popular 16-year old high school student who loves to party, described her experience mixing a popular energy drink that has a whopping 80 mg of caffeine, with vodka. “Not only did it make the drink go down easier due to the sweet taste, I also felt like I was able to keep going all night! I was dancing until 3 am without getting tired or feeling like I needed to take a break.”

Don’t see a problem with that? Well, listen to the rest of what Sara has to say. “Although it was fun at first, I actually ended up drinking way more than I did before I started mixing with Red Bull. So that meant worse hangovers, sometimes so bad that I spent the following next day in bed.”

Of course, we would prefer that you didn’t drink at all, as alcohol is an addictive substance that has many harmful physical and social consequences. However, if you must drink, avoid mixing alcohol with any caffeinated beverages or stimulants. Instead, alternate every alcoholic drink with water or Gatorade. Staying hydrated will prevent the ill effects of dehydration that result in those wicked hangovers you get from drinking to excess. Not only will you feel better the next day, but hydration actually prevents fatigue and burnout, leaving you with more energy. Not only will you feel better, but you are also far less likely to be the subject of the morning-after gossip!

SUBSTANCE INFO 12 . 1

alcohol abuse smoking alcohol

Smoking alcohol, thanks in part to YouTube videos gone viral, is a growing trend amongst teenagers. You may have seen people smoking while drinking, but smoking their drinks? Right away it sounds intriguing.

It’s a do-it-yourself job. The alcohol is placed into a container, which is filled with dry ice or pumped full of air. The vapours are then inhaled for an instant buzz. Teens will use whatever type of alcohol they can get their hands on in the home made devices.

But this is not just a quirky party trick, nor is it a way to practice your high school chemistry skills. There are some serious risks to inhaling alcohol. Since your body is not digesting and metabolizing the substance, you are delivering the intoxicating chemicals directly to your brain. Sure, you avoid the annoying possibility of vomiting, but throwing up while drinking is how our body tells us it can’t handle any more, therefore protecting us from drinking dangerously high amounts of alcohol. Smoking alcohol might sound like a convenient way to avoid barfing at a party, but what it also means is that the entire chemical load goes straight to our brainsmore dire than just an embarrassing story. Doctors say that smoking alcohol increases its addictive qualities, which means that people who repeatedly use alcohol this way will experience powerful cravings and will require higher volumes to get the same high. Also remember that a person inhaling is not in control of how much he is consuming, because he is only inhaling the vapours while the actual liquid remains in the container that is being vapourized.

This adds to the risk of alcohol poisoning. Finally, doctors and paramedics also point out that this method is terrible for your lungs and nasal passages.

12 . 2 alcohol abuse F.A.S.D

What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder??

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) - also referred to as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)– is a series of problems with physical, learning, and behaviourial development caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. FASD can include a range of birth defects including:

• Abnormal facial features • Central nervous system problems • Problems with memory, learning, and attention span • Problems communicating and expressing oneself • Problems with vision or hearing • Difficulties in school and getting along with others

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a permanent condition, and cannot be cured. It is only caused by drinking during pregnancy, and is therefore 100% preventable; if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant, her baby will have no chance of developing FASD.

Is there any safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant or is there a safe time during pregnancy to drink alcohol? Think of it this way: when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. There is no “safe” way to consume alcohol when pregnant. There is no “safe” time to drink during pregnancy: the harmful effects of drinking on an unborn fetus can happen in every stage of pregnancy. Therefore, women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should not drink. If you are sexually active and not using an effective form of birth control, you are at high risk for becoming pregnant and should not drink. How does alcohol cause these problems? Alcohol in the mother’s blood crosses the placenta freely and enters the growing embryo or fetus through the umbilical cord. Exposure to alcohol in the first three months of pregnancy can cause structural defects (like facial abnormalities). Growth and central nervous system problems can stem from the effects of alcohol at any stage in the pregnancy. The fetus’ brain is developing throughout the pregnancy, and can be damaged at any time.

What kind of alcohol can cause damage? All drinks containing alcohol can harm a baby. A 12-ounce can of beer contains the same amount of alcohol as a 4- ounce glass of wine or a 1-ounce shot of hard alcohol.

What if I’m pregnant now and have been drinking - is there any point to my stopping now? If a woman has been drinking during pregnancy, it is never too late for her to stop. The sooner a woman stops drinking, the better her baby’s chances for normal development. Any woman who has a problem with drinking and is sexually active should use an effective method of birth control, like condoms or the pill, until her drinking

is under control. Is there anything I can do to help if I know someone who is drinking during her pregnancy? Mothers are not the only ones who can prevent FASD. Significant others, family members, friends, schools and counsellors can prevent FASD through education and support. If you know someone who is pregnant and still drinking, gently share share this information with her, and encourage her to seek help from the Edmonton Fetal Alcohol Network (www.region6fasd.ca.)