Crystal meth is here

 

By Shaun Garrity

Everyday Stanley says he rolls up his sleeve and injects himself with a liquid form of crystal meth.

The middle-aged Windsorite has been using the illegal drug since 1999 and agreed to do an interview because he wants to warn others about the dangers. The Methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth can keep an addict awake for days, with little as $40 worth of product.

Crystal meth began increasing in popularity on Windsor streets two years ago according to police.

In the 1990s, Stanley owned a car and did well for himself learning a skilled trade working with cement. It is 15 years since he first experimented with the glass-like substance.

Stanley’s mode of transportation now is his bicycle. He bikes up and down Windsor’s downtown core with a small hitch attached to the back, where he collects cans to finance his habit. His personal preference is to use crystal meth intravenously.

“I shoot it,” says Stanley, that’s how he gets the best buzz. Other common street names to describe intravenously use, are to “bang” and “channel swimmer.” It also can be smoked or sniffed.

Stanley says whatever way users choose to do it, many addicts in Windsor are making it their new drug of choice because the high lasts so long.

“They are not getting high as they would if they bought crystal meth, where they’re going to get higher for a longer time.”

Although the high may be stimulating and satisfying, according to Health Canada side effects can be excruciating and weary. Some may experience skin lesions from

excessive scratching caused by drug-induced hallucinations of bugs crawling on the skin.

Stanley says he’s had a terrible experience he still remembers.

He was dealing with the death of his father, when he decided to do crystal meth with a trusted friend who also was a needle user.

“He gave me the needle, as I was pulling it out my arm, he then told me he had used that needle and I might want to go to the hospital and get checked out.”

He later went to a local clinic to have his blood tested.

“I found myself positive with Hep C,” says Stanley, referring to hepatitis, a common virus among intravenous users.

Back then, crystal meth was not readily available. He says addicts are attracted to the price now and it’s cheaper than most drugs on the black market.

Windsor Police say crystal meth is frequently a Western-based drug, showing up more often in places such as Edmonton and British Columbia.

“Our Windsor Police Drugs Intelligence Guns Surveillance branch unit is aware of it, we know it’s here,” says police Sgt Matthew D’Asti.

He adds crystal meth is a dangerous stimulant that carries inherent hazards.

According to Dr. Tony Hammer, who has specialized in the treatment of addictions for 20 years, crystal meth’s popularity is growing in Windsor users are getting the product from outside the city.

These stimulants Ritalin, cocaine, methamphetamines, and crystal meth, you got regional availability and it is commoner in rural areas. I think that’s partly why you didn’t see much of it here, but that has recently changed,” said Hammer.