LIFE or METH - Make the RIGHT Choice

Dealing with Teenage Methamphetamine Use

Identifying and dealing with teenage drug use is a frightening prospect for any parent. But we live in a world where teens have so many opportunities for losing their way. They have the time and money for vices and less supervision at home. And drugs today are even more powerful and addictive than ever.

Methamphetamine (known on the street as "speed," "meth," "crank," "crystal-meth") is a central nervous system stimulant that is among the most dangerous drugs available. Like cocaine, it is a powerful "upper" that produces alertness and feelings of elation, along with a variety of adverse reactions. Methamphetamine is sometimes called the "poor man’s cocaine," because it costs nearly the same as cocaine with much longer lasting effects.

Methamphetamine can be swallowed, smoked, snorted, or injected. Under the influence of the drug, users often become agitated and "wired." Their behaviour becomes unpredictable: friendly and calm one moment, angry and terrified the next. Once users become too tired to continue using or run out of meth, they will begin to "crash." Initially, the crash is marked by agitated depression, which soon gives way to lethargy, followed by a long deep sleep. Once the user awakens, the depression returns and may last for days. This is the time when the potential for suicide is high.

With prolonged high-dose use or long binges, stimulant psychosis may develop. User may feel intensely paranoid, hear voices, and experience bizarre delusions (such as thinking that people are talking about and/or following them). Methamphetamine-induced panic and psychosis can be extremely dangerous and may result in incidents of extreme violence.

Dangers and consequences of meth use include:

• sleeplessness
  
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  
• skin ulceration and infection, the result of picking at imaginary bugs
  
• paranoia, anxiety, irritability
  
• depression
  
• increased blood pressure due to the constriction of blood vessels (may produce headaches, chest pain, or irregular heartbeat and lead to stroke or heart attack)
  
• seizures
  
• permanent brain cell damage
  
• for intravenous (IV) users: AIDS, hepatitis, infections and sores at the injection site, and infection of the heart lining and valves (endocarditis)

If you are a parent concerned that your teenager may be using meth, there are symptoms you should look for. You may notice a striking degeneration of your child's attitude, school attendance and marks, dress, personal hygiene, complexion and skin condition, along with increased mood swings, weight loss, and irregular sleeping patterns such as long waking and sleeping periods (days). A change of friends, secrecy, missing monies and valuables, dropping out of extra curriculum activities, and verbal aggression and/or the threat of physical aggression are also warning signs. If you suspect your child of drug use, contact a professional or counselor to help guide you through the process of acknowledging, confronting, and dealing with this problem. Professionals, non-profits, and faith-based organizations are available throughout Saskatchewan to help you and your family through this difficult time. Teen Challenge Saskatchewan Phone: 306-664-4673

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Carnation Milk

When opening a can of Carnation evaporated milk for your recipes, just smile and think of this.

A little old lady from Newfoundland had worked in and around her family dairy farms since she was old enough to walk, with hours of hard work and little
compensation. When canned Carnation Milk became available in grocery stores in approximately the 1940's, she read an advertisement offering $5,000 for the best slogan. The producers wanted a rhyme beginning with "Carnation Milk is best of all...."

She said, I know all about milk and dairy farms... I can do this!

She sent in her entry, and about a week later, a black limo drove up in front of her house... a man got out and said, "Carnation LOVED your entry so much, we are here to award you $1000, even though we will not be able to use it...."

Here is her entry:

"Carnation milk is best of all,
no tits to pull, no hay to haul
no buckets to wash, no shit to pitch,
just poke a hole in the son-of-a-bitch!"
*Thanks, Andy

Kids talk to God..

1. Dear God, please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. Amanda 

2. Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up. Joyce 

3. Dear Mr. God, I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart I had to have 3 stitches and a shot. Janet 

4. God, I read the bible. What does beget mean? Nobody will tell me. Love Alison 

5. Dear God, how did you know you were God? Who told you? Charlene 

6. Dear God, is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his golf words in the house? Anita 

7. Dear God, I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it. Nancy 

8. Dear God, I like the story about Noah the best of all of them. You really made up some good ones. I like walking on water, too. Glenn 

9. Dear God, my Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy. How far back do you go? Love, Dennis 

10. Dear God, Do you draw the lines around the countries? If you don't, who does? Nathan 

11. Dear God, did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident? Norma 

12. Dear God, in bible times, did they really talk that fancy? Jennifer 

13. Dear God, how come you did all those miracles in the old days and don't do any now? Billy 

14. Dear God, please send Dennis Clark to a different summer camp this year. Peter 

15. Dear God, maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they each had their own rooms. It works out OK with me and my brother. Larry 

16. Dear God, I keep waiting for spring, but it never did come yet. What's up? Don't forget. Mark 

17. Dear God, my brother told me about how you are born but it just doesn't sound right. What do you say? Marsha 

18. Dear God, If you watch in Church on Sunday I will show you my new shoes. Barbara 

19. Dear God, is Reverend Coe a friend of yours, or do you just know him through the business? Donny 

20. Dear God, I do not think anybody could be a better God than you. Well, I just want you to know that. I am not just saying that because you are already God. Charles 

21. Dear God, it is great the way you always get the stars in the right place. Why can't you do that with the moon? Jeff 

22. Dear God, I am doing the best I can. Really !!!! Frank And, saving the best for last... 

23. Dear God, I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday night. That was really cool. Thomas

*Thanks, Andy