Thursday, February 02, 2006

I Am Meth

I destroy homes, I tear families apart, Take your children, and that's just the start. I'm more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold, The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.If you need me, remember I'm easily found, I live all around you - in schools and in town I live with the rich; I live with the poor, I live down the street, and maybe next door.I'm made in a lab, but not like you think, I can be made under the kitchen sink. In your child's closet, and even in the woods, If this scares you to death, well it certainly should.I have many names, but there's one you know best, I'm sure you've heard of me, my name is crystal meth. My power is awesome; try me you'll see, But if you do, you may never break free.Just try me once and I might let you go, But try me twice, and I'll own your soul. When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie, You do what you have to -- just to get high.The crimes you'll commit for my narcotic charms Will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your lungs, your nose, your arms. You'll lie to your mother; you'll steal from your dad, When you see their tears, you should feel sad.But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised, I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my ways. I take kids from parents, and parents from kids, I turn people from God, and separate friends.I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride, I'll be with you always -- right by your side. You'll give up everything - your family, your home, Your friends, your money, then you'll be alone.I'll take and take, till you have nothing more to give, When I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to live. If you try me be warned - this is no game, If given the chance, I'll drive you insane.I'll ravish your body, I'll control your mind, I'll own you completely, your soul will be mine. The nightmares I'll give you while lying in bed, The voices you'll hear, from inside your head.The sweats, the shakes, the visions you'll see, I want you to know, these are all gifts from me. But then it's too late, and you'll know in your heart, That you are mine, and we shall not part.You'll regret that you tried me, they always do,But you came to me, not I to you. You knew this would happen, many times you were told,But you challenged my power, and chose to be bold.You could have said no, and just walked away, If you could live that day over, now what would you say? I'll be your master, you will be my slave, I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave.Now that you have met me, what will you do? Will you try me or not? It's all up to you. I can bring you more misery than words can tell, Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.

My Friends, there is a dark underworld out there, right here in Roseville, that we don't even know exists with our high schoolers. Open your eyes and ears and it will scream at you.

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Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Start Worrying

My Friends, we here in Roseville have something serious to worrying about, especially those of us on the west side with kids at Woodcreek Oaks High School. According to “the Ville’s” narcotics division, the current drug of choice at Woodcreek is Ecstasy. It is quite the rage right now I was sorry to learn yesterday and the topic of several discussions on that vaunted instrument of public discourse known as MySpace. Look for a WHS related website near and dear to your heart here. What should you look for? Look for references to “e,” “thizz,” or “MadMan” for starters. You see those words, you need to educate yourself on this drug and start looking for its signs. According to here, this drug is similar to meth in the “chemical structure of MDMA is similar to those of mescaline and methamphetamine.” This isn’t a mild toke my friends.

The signs of a person on Ecstasy are:

Pupil dilation with attendant photosensitivity and color perception
Jaw clenching or bruxism ("gurning" or "grinding") aka “Thizz face”
Shutter vision (nystagmus)
General restlessness
Loss of appetite/taste sensation changes
Lack of focus / concentration
Tingling
Sweaty palms
Increased heart rate

What’s most frightening about Ecstasy my friends is not MDNA, the primary chemical, but what all may be in it. The additives are what can kill if present in sufficient amounts and largely dosed. Here is a great website for getting informed on the varieties of Ecstasy available. It can be made in “basement labs” with household chemicals. It appears this is the reason the Drug Enforcement Agency (on the 5 schedules of the Controlled Substances Act) ranks right up there with heroin as a Schedule 1 substance even though medical experts believe it can be used beneficially for treating disorders like post-traumatic stress, hence would have been a Schedule III drug. Schedule I requires the following findings:

Findings required:
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.


The black market manufacture of this drug is what hits all three findings apparently. Medically, it can cause some damage according to some. Metabolic breakdown of Ecstasy can create “reactive oxygen species” (ROS) chemicals that will “cause oxidative cell damage when taken up into the releasing synapse.” For a here’s-your-brain-on-drugs analogy, another oxidative mechanism is fire, my friends. However, claims that it can cause long term brain damage are debatable.

I spent most of yesterday getting educated about this problem. I’d prefer the bliss of ignorance, frankly. But Ecstasy’s real, “there’s a lot of that going on at WHS,” and it can hurt those you love. Get educated, get active in your kids lives if you are not already, watch for signs, and most of all - pray.

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