Bob Hughes shows how instructions to make crystal meth can be found on
the internet. |
Addictions counsellor Bob Hughes had never even
heard of crystal meth until some of his youngest
clients started coming in addicted. Now he says
it's the drug of choice for young users in
Kamloops. "We've seen
crystal meth hit the community in the last four
to six years. It has come in and caught us by surprise.
And now what we're seeing is it's starting to move
into the regular school system. We're starting
to see people trying the drug that we wouldn't
expect to try it."
The Meth Kickers Program
Working out of an addictions
treatment facility called The
Phoenix Centre, Hughes came up with an
innovative program for young clients on crystal
meth: Meth Kickers. It's a pilot project
that lasts just six weeks, during which time they
try to wean young users from one of the most toxic
and addictive drugs around.
What's different about this program is
that there is no pressure to go cold turkey
- not at first. The counsellors' first goal is
to engage the kids and earn their trust, so that
when they do take that step to stop the drug, they've
got the support they need.
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The first time Hughes ran Meth Kickers, only
one kid made it through clean. This time, there's
a new rule: while adjusting to life without crystal
meth, the kids are allowed to smoke pot. "If
we see any improvement or reduction in their use
of meth, I think we're on to something. Because
it's just that drug.
If we can remove that drug, then we make
a big difference in somebody's life, incredible
difference, because this drug will destroy you.
And if they use marijuana as a crutch to get through
it so be it."
Andrew fell into a depression and had suicidal thoughts when he began to
quit. |
Recovering from addiction
Nineteen-year-old Andrew,
a consultant to Meth Kickers, knows how hard it
is to quit taking crystal meth. He was a crystal
meth addict for three years.
Andrew's been clean now for three months.
For the group it's important to have input
from a recovering addict. But for Andrew it's
a lifesaver. With each meeting he is one more step
away from where he was last November - in the local
emergency ward, blacking out from crystal meth.
"I had a gap, a bit of
a gap in my memory of like twelve hours where I
didn't really remember anything happening during
that time. And you know that scared me to the point
where - where I just really didn't want to do it
anymore."
Of the eight kids who started this second round
of Meth Kickers, five finished. They all went one
month without the drug. Too early to call it a
success, says counsellor Bob Hughes, but it's
a step in the right direction. |
