“it’s your choice. | know it screwed up my life. You have potential because you haven't used it. You don't want to go there. It'll ruin your entire life.” ;

“If you still do it, you'll crave it and you Il need it to

“survive and that’s not fun.” - *

This is what Divina C. from Vancouver Island has to say to young girls about crystal meth.

She's 16, has jet-black hair and dark eyes and recounts

her story sitting in a counsellors office at a residential

’ treatment centre in Terrace. .

. __ Divina first used crystal meth when she was 12 but be- gan heavy use when she was 13.

» “| liked it. It's really, really addictive. And it’s easy to

find. Nanaimo is pretty bad-for drugs. It's like a mini-Van-

know,-are using drugs,” she says. - This is Divina’s second visit to the facility. Her first was in the spring but she returned after relapsing.- “When | left here then | made it two months before re-

lapsing. | was literally going to die,” says Divina who was

homeless and living on the streets.

» “| had bad health living on the streets. |'was under 90.

pounds. | was in and out of hospital all the time. It got to that people there knew my | name.” “| had — blackouts. One time a cop picked up me up to take me to * the hospital and | was ODing in her car.” . It’s an_ illustration ‘of . how fast meth can destroy a life. ; "With me it was sjust two _months. That's how crystal meth can grab you from re- ally, really heavy use and be- ..ing on the street.” ° ; -. "” Divinasays young girls may .. turn to crystal meth because » it is regarded as‘one way to lose weight. People on meth - don’t sleep and don’t eat. In-Divina’s case it was about

__ fitting in and making friends.

*“- "That's what you want to do. Lose weight and have friends to hang out with,” she says.

But she began to steal money

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE METH WATCH PROGRAM

Robin Austin MIA Skeena

Terrace’ 104-4710 Lazelle Ave Phone: 250 638-7906 Fax: 250 638-7926

Kitimat 244A City Centre Phone: 250 632-9886 " Fax: 250 632-9883

Email: ©

robin.austin.mla@leg.be.ca.

here after coming to the realization she couldn't continue her lifestyle. -

"This is my choice. | was sick of getting up and being full of self loathing and low self esteem. | was sick of do- ing what | did in order to have the money for my drugs."

Lisa ‘describes

from triggers which will ignite the craving to return to

_ with brown hair and brown eyes. couver. The people | know, a lot of the young people | y .

The Crystal Meth _ Response Program ‘Committee Members

from Terrace, Kitimat, Stewart, Village of Hazelton and District of Hazelton would like to thank our corporate partner Alcan and ALL our community partners for participating in this serious - community issue and working towards a unifi ed. and effective conclusion. "

&

from school. lockers to buy drugs. And friends were only friends as long.as she had drugs. “It seems amazing at first,” Divina says about crystal meth. “It's the best thing in ‘the world. But: try one day

. without using and you'll get sick and start puking. If. you,

don’t have it, you want to.die.” Part of Divina's recovery revolves around staying away .

crystal meth. “It could even be a smell, the smell of speed or meth — cooking. For me it’s, epsom salts, those clear bath salts. They look just like meth.” Lisa G. is also from Vancouver Island and she's S' also 16

She began using drugs at 14 and entered the | program .

finding crystal meth as easier-than ‘buying marijuana or even alcohol. . “Everyone deals it, everyone. . The dealers don’t care who they - sell to. They just want your mon- ‘Lisa credits her survival and entry into the program to her -foster mother. “She saved my life. | treated her like crap all the time but . she never gave upon me.’

Lisa‘s a member of NA, Nar- | cotics Anonymous, which uses he’ same 12-step. recovery | program as does Alcoholics Anonymous. — . Principles _ within the steps include.ad- ° mitting there is a problem, - . seeking help, engaging in . a thorough, self-examina- on, confidential self-dis- . losure, making amends | or harm done and help- fing other drug. addicts . " who want to recover.

incorporated

“in n Grade 11 and her plan is to return

Community Awareness |i Important...

Keep Your Eyes Open!

i'm lovin’ it

NORTHWEST > ADDICTION SERVICES|

is a member of the

Crystal Meth Advisory Group

and thank all of our partners for participating - in this serious community issue,

_TDCSS ©

Professional Management Ltd.

From the team rebuilding the Keystones, support for a healthy community

Andrew L. Macintosh Bigfoot Professional Management Ltd. www. bigfootpro.ca - What's your BIG idea?

Mark Selman Nalabila Property Management Inc.

“and finish school.

Lisa is supposed to be. .

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - A15

©

After that she wants to attend a Bible college i in Calgary where a sister lives who has just returned frorn being as missionary overseas.

“Vd like to go someplace and help out where there is a 7 war,” says Lisa.

“Being an addict and overcoming it, it's time to start Z

7 giving back to the world,” she says.

Coast Mountains School District is a member of the Crystal. Meth Response Committee and. a partner in the Crystal. Meth

Response Program -

KITSUMKALUM

BAND COUNCIL

Proud to be part of the

COMMUNITY METH WATCH PROGRAM!

BOX 544, TERRACE, B.C. V8G 4B5 "

The City of Terrace recognizes the importance ©

of working together to find solutions to address drug use in our community and is proud fo

show our support for the Meth Watch Program.

As the umbrella organization ; _ for the Crystal Meth |

Response Program, the”

Regional District thanks all its. community partners. ©

re y ™ Regional District of .

. | _ Kitimat-Stikine | So Phone (250)'615-6100 -

1-800-663-3208. -

Local 2301 is a proud supporter of the

Meth Watch Program

as

At A&W we care e about ¢ our, ‘youth and our community. We are proud to support. the. oot Crystal t Meth Response Program oa

SKEENA MALL LOCATION . KEITH AVENUE DRIVE-THRU |

8:30-6 Sun, Wed & Sat / 8:30-9 Thurs & Fri 7’a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Daily

.