18 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday September 15, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Speaker issues warning about perils of crystal meth By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER A police officer and politician are doing more than just thinking about the recent powerful presentation by Mark McLaughlin, president of the Crystal Meth Society of British Columbia. McLaughlin's information set Oakville Ward 1 Councillor Ralph Robinson on a mission to put in place a PUBLIC AUCTION 3620B LAIRD RD, Unit 6, Mississauga HARDWOOD AND LAMINATE FLOORING OVER 50,000 SQ FT TUESDAY AUGUST 14th, 7:00PM Viewing Mon AUG 13th 8AM-4PM & Day of sale from 3PM UNRESERVED AUCTION, NO MINIMUM BIDS This auction features a fantastic selection of top quality prefinished ¾" thick nail down Hardwood Flooring to include a variety of Oak, Maple, Birch, Black Walnut, Cherry, Pine, Antique hand scrapes, as well as Japanese Exotics, Natural Pecan, & Kempas to name a few. Quantities of wide plank, dark woods and chocolates as well as natural favorites. Many in wide planks up to 5" Wide! PLUS- An excellent selection of Click together Engineered Floating Flooring with a solid wood surface that can be refinished up to 5 times, and a wide selection of quality laminate flooring up to 13mm thick! BRING YOUR TRUCK, TRAILER OR CAR AND LOAD AND GO, Removal after the sale and Wednesday from 1PM-4PM bylaw that allows the municipality to shut down suspected clandestine labs. And Halton drug enforcement officer Detective Sergeant Robert Waller assured McLaughlin he would look into testing future drug seizures for crystal meth content. (It's an inexpensive filler sometimes used to bulk up other drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and marijuana). Although Waller hasn't seen evidence of crystal methane being distributed locally, "I'm not naïve enough to think it's not here," he added. The presentation was made at the Halton Region Administrative Centre, 1151 Bronte Rd. In a room full of educators, paramedics, social workers, community service and health workers, the possibilities for safeguarding the region with information are great. For now, the reactions of Robinson and Waller are reassuring to McLaughlin, who discovered a void of information about the manufactured drug when his daughter became a user at age 14. He and his wife Ruth set to work on filling the abyss by founding a registered charity in 2005. In the interim they educated about 8,000 students, built a website (www.crystalmethbc.ca) and set up a community watch program to educate store clerks and homeowners alike. McLaughlin is intent on making communities across the county "put on their crystal meth glasses" to clearly see and expose the detritus of Register NOW for Fall Classes! Morning, Afternoon & Evening Classes in Oakville. "The heart-pumping, calorie-burning, muscle-toning, moving-and-grooving, energizing, relaxing, body-bliss workout that lets your spirit dance!" All flooring will be sold by the square foot to the highest bidder; BUY ONLY WHAT YOU NEED! Standard 15% buyers premium applies.For directions and details, visit us on the web at this cheap, easily made and accessed drug. "It thrives especially when it is allowed to permeate unnoticed," said McLaughlin. Called `jib,' `meth', `gak', `speed', `crank', `ice', `shard', `sketch', `crystal' and `tina', it's a white or off-white powder or crystal that is injected, inhaled, smoked, or eaten. Crystal meth is made from easily acquired ingredients found in pharmacies, hardware and grocery stores. It can be easily made in portable labs as small as a bathtub. For a $5 to $10 dose, the high lasts eight hours or more, is three times as powerful as crack cocaine and is described by users interviewed in a film called Death by Jib as "the worst drug in the world." It is certainly the most addictive in current use. Dopamine in our brains rises to 100 parts per million (ppm) after eating chocolate, to 350 ppm with cocaine use and to 1,200 ppm when a person takes crystal meth. "Every kid and their parents should be forewarned," said McLaughlin. "Forewarned is forearmed." In the B.C. dad/activist's presentations to middle and high school students, he teaches them ways to say no to someone offering drugs. "Leave the room, make a joke of it, or avoid eye contact." Parents and community caregivers should be aware of the warning signs that someone is using crystal meth: insomnia, or sleeping for several days, decreased appetite, extreme energy, rapid speech, excessive sweating, sudden aggression, and a completely altered personality. Crystal meth causes paranoia, hallucinations, rages, violent behaviour, depression and leaves users bereft of logic, ration and emotional capacity. "Users get to the point where meth becomes the solution to the problem of crystal meth," said McLaughlin. Its ill effects also impact the community, by way of increased thefts, car accidents, property damage, compromised public health and family break up. WWW.HARDWOODAUCTION.CA 905-820-0555 Anna Schantz, Certified Nia Instructor OSTEOARTHRITIS PAIN? New Treatment Combines Sound Pressure Waves and Exercise in Warm Water for Pain Relief 905.332.3012 annaschantz@cogeco.ca Lisa Sidorowicz, Certified Nia Instructor 905.842.3305 lisa@thecore.ca www.nianow.com · www.niac.ca Halton Regional Police Service Police Auction Now On-Line Halton Regional Police Service now offers its seized and found property for public auction on the Internet twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and sixty five days a year. Members of the public can view pictures and descriptions on website http://stores.ebay.ca/ Police-Auctions-Canada of the goods available through the convenience of their home computer or if they do not have access at home, through the services of the local library or internet cafes. The website explains the acquisition process for the public. A link will also be available through the Halton Regional Police Service website. www. hrps.on.ca. As an added benefit, citizens will not only be able to view property seized or found by Halton Police, but will also have an opportunity to view property from the Toronto Police Service and the Toronto Transit Commission. Apa me s Ap rtments par men Hom O fice Home Offi es ome fi Pant y Pa try at Garage Garag Gara La nd y Laundry C Clos t Closets & M r r Doors Mirro Mirror Mi SPACE AGE SHELVING The Storage Specialists AquaSonix Therapy is the new treatment program combining sound pressure waves and low impact exercise in warm water therapy pools for the relief of pain and to improve flexibility and mobility. The course of therapy is 15 treatment sessions. In Oakville, AquaSonix Therapy is held at the Oaklands Regional Centre on Bond Street. In Home Consultation 3350 Fairview Street between Walkers & Guelph Line 905-333-1322 2555 Erin Centre Mississauga 905-542-0353 Call to Register 416-622-2121 www.spaceageshelvingburlington.com www.spaceageshelving.ca