Crystal meth addiction

She smoked crystal methamphetamine and went into a coma

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:15:42 GMT

Court victory for drug addict, Sandra Bergen, who sued her dealer over heart attack

A former addict has opened a new front in the war on illegal drugs by successfully suing her dealer for selling her crystal methamphetamine that almost killed her.

Sandra Bergen, 23, won her case against a former nursery-school friend who sold her the highly addictive drug, triggering a heart attack that left her in a coma for 11 days.

The ground-breaking suit exposes drug-dealers to legal jeopardy not just from the often-overburdened police but also from their customers, who can easily identify them.

"It’s bigger than me and it’s bigger than this guy," Ms Bergen told Canada’s CTV.

"I think it’s a different way to hit drug dealers financially, and that is where it would really hurt them.

"I have gotten sober. I think that’s taking responsibility for my actions. I don’t think I should have to take responsibility for both of our actions. I think he should meet me half way. That’s what this lawsuit is about," she said.

Calvina Fay, director of the Drug Free America Foundation, suggested the case could offer a new avenue to pursue drug dealers. "This obviously sets a precedent, but it also makes the public aware of this whole concept. It’s a way of holding drug dealers responsible for their actions," she said.

Ms Bergen, from Biggar, Saskatchewan, in Canada alleges that her nursery-school classmate Clinton Davey got her addicted to crystal methamphetamine by offering her a free dose when she was only 13 years old.

She said she was drug-free for eight months before she met him at a friend’s house shortly before her 20th birthday in 2004.

"Prior to taking the drug, I was very nervous because I had to appear in a sexual assault trial where I was the victim. So I was having a bad day, you might say," she said.

"Usually what he does is he offers you some for free because he knows you are addicted. Once you have some, he offers to sell you some.

"He told me to go over to his grandmother’s house. That’s where I went. We did drugs together there. Then I got him money for the drugs... We smoked some. Then I had symptoms of a heart attack."

Ms Bergen, who maintains an anti-drug website and speaks to schoolchildren on the perils of illegal drugs, complained that the police showed little interest in pursuing Mr Davey.

"With the criminal justice system, there wasn’t much of an investigation. Me and my family were very frustrated so we found a different way to hold him responsible through the civil justice system," he said.

In her legal claim, Ms Bergen said Mr Davey knew the drug was highly addictive and the sale of the drug was "for the purpose of making money but was also for the purpose of intentionally inflicting physical and mental suffering on Sandra". She also named as a defendant the unknown supplier, named only as "John Doe", from whom Mr Davey got the crystal methamphetamine.

Mr Davey filed a defence statement denying all the allegations and insisting that Ms Bergen "did assume the risk to her person when she voluntarily ingested the illegal drugs".

But Mr Davey stopped contesting the lawsuit when he was ordered to name his supplier, "John Doe", during pre-trail discovery. He refused to do so, putting him at risk of a contempt-of-court charge. The judge then entered a default judgment against him.

Damages will be decided at a future hearing. Ms Bergen is claiming $50,000. "I don’t really expect to gain much financially," she said.

"But I do know of one family that’s awaiting the verdict on this case so they can go ahead with a similar one and find a lawyer to take it on."

Ms Fay of Drug Free America noted that some US states had introduced "Drug Dealer Liability Acts" allowing drug-users and their families to sue suppliers. But few cases have been brought so far.

Gwen Landolt, a lawyer and vice-president of the Drug Prevention Network of Canada, said such lawsuits would be useful in reining in the drug trade. But she said the case hinged on an unusual set of facts and voiced scepticism that courts would routinely hold dealers responsible for drug-taking by users.

"It could be very useful that there would be criminal and personal liability," she said. "But it’s not the normal set of facts."

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Signs of a Meth Lab

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:51:46 GMT

Because meth is so easy to make, meth labs can be set up almost anywhere. Commonly meth labs are found in homes, businesses, motels, cars, mini-storage facilities, etc. This can be highly dangerous for unsuspecting people who may be in close proximity to the meth lab.

The following signs may indicate a meth lab near you:

Chemical odors.
People coming and going at all hours of the day and night.
Excessive traffic often with a short stay.
Chemical containers and tubing used in the containers.
Exhaust fans in constant use.
Large quantities of matches, acetone, lithium batteries, and other ingredients.
Coffee grinders and blenders with white residue.
Coffee filters with red stains.
Filthy living conditions.
Chemical containers in the trash.
Thermos, plastic liter pop bottles.
Plastic baggies.

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The physical signs of meth abuse

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:47:13 GMT

Methamphetamine is a drug that does not allow much room for casual use. Users quickly become addicts. The health of addicts quickly deteriorates, as does their ability to tend to basic personal hygiene. Meth is often referred to as the "dirty drug". The physical signs of meth abuse include:

Rapid eye movement and dilated pupils.
Users lose weight rapidly and often appear sick.
Meth use causes serious tooth decay.
Skin Sores: Users often pick at imaginary bugs under their skin ("meth bugs"), causing open sores, infections, and scarring of the skin.
Body Odor: Chemicals are emitted from the skin of meth users, often producing strong and unpleasant odors.
The faces of users often appear pale or splotchy and may be sweaty as well.

Methamphetamine users will also be paranoid, jittery, and anxiety ridden. They may communicate with senseless and irrational babble and their speech may be impaired. They are prone to moodiness and violent outbursts.

For these reasons, you should never confront a meth user. Instead, you should call appropriate law enforcement authorities or health care providers.

Please note that the presence of these symptoms and behaviors do not necessarily mean a person is a meth addict. There are other factors, such as mental illness or side effects from prescribed medication, that can cause symptoms similar to those associated with meth addiction.

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What are the Hazards of Crystal Meth?

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:55:03 GMT

Crystal meth is an addictive killer; that much is known. But what makes it so dangerous?

Hazards of Crystal Meth: Dangerous Physical Effects

In low doses, crystal meth heightens the senses and makes the users more alert. In higher doses, the drug causes exhilaration and euphoria. If used in even higher doses, heart rate increases, body temperature can rise to very dangerous levels, and the user can become paranoid, agitated and exhibit very bizarre and risky behavior. It's at these high doses that overdose and death occur.

Hazards of Crystal Meth: Addiction

Some experts say that it is impossible not to become addicted to crystal meth. Some studies have shown that 9 out of 10 people who inject crystal meth just once will become addicted. While those who smoke crystal meth take longer to become addicted, most do and eventually progress to injecting meth. In addition to its ability to addict the user, tolerance also occurs, meaning the user must use higher doses to achieve the same effect. Eventually, the doses are so high that the most dangerous effects such as increased heart rate, severe hyperthermia (high body temperature), paranoia, and stroke occur, eventually resulting in death. Once addicted, kicking the addiction is said to be at most almost impossible and at least extremely difficult and emotionally painful.

Hazards of Crystal Meth: Withdrawal

Prolonged use and addiction to crystal meth slowly "burns out" the pleasure senses. The body produces two substances, dopamine and norepinephrine, to stimulate the body. Crystal meth eventually burns out the system that produces these important chemicals. After this occurs, the body can no longer produce the chemicals that stimulate the pleasure senses. Simply put, crystal meth becomes necessary for the user to feel pleasure. After stopping the drug, the person will experience a profound "numbness" and depression because the body can no longer produce the two stimulants necessary to experience pleasure. The depression can become so profound that users trying to stop crystal meth will commit suicide to ease their pain. To make matters worse, addiction relapse is very common. Most people trying to stop will use again once out of rehab. In short, crystal meth takes hold and will not let go.

Hazards of Crystal Meth: Risky Behavior

Users of crystal meth will exhibit very at risk sexual behavior, including sexual binges that include unsafe sex with multiple anonymous partners. In addition, users often exchange sex for the drug, further exposing them to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

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How is Crystal Meth Manufactured?

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:48:25 GMT

Crystal meth is "cooked" in labs that spring up in warehouses, abandoned homes, and kitchens in neighborhoods across the country. Household chemicals and solvents purchased in grocery and hardware stores, over the counter medications such as pseudophed, and ordinary items such as pots and pans are used to manufacture this killer. When these ordinary ingredients are combined the result is a deadly form of amphetamine...crystal meth...and toxic by-products that contaminate the air, can cause illness and death, and are highly volatile, often exploding without warning. When meth labs are found and shut down, hazardous materials units are required to properly handle and dismantle the labs in order to protect homes and people living near the meth lab.

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What is Crystal Meth?

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:44:57 GMT

Crystal Meth is the synthetic white crystalline powder form of amphetamines

While the legal form of amphetamines are used primarily as a short term treatment for obesity, crystal meth is used as a recreational drug ("party drug"), because of its ability to enhance the senses and cause a euphoric high. It's said that when used, people often go days without sleep and engage in high risk sexual activity non-stop. Sometimes it is used along with Viagra to further enhance the sexual experiences. While the legal form is odorless, crystal meth often smells of ammonia, due to the chemicals used during manufacturing.

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Methamphetamine or Crystal Meth

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:42:54 GMT

Methamphetamine or Crystal Meth has its roots in some unexpected places. Military pilots used amphetamines to stay awake during the long flights to their bombing targets during the wartime. College students used them to stay awake all night to study for exams. In the 1960's people used amphetamines for entertainment. Then, in the 1970's as laws made getting amphetamines more difficult, their use all but disappeared. But now the use of amphetamines has returned in full force, primarily in the form of the supercharged version called methamphetamine. Manufactured in makeshift "meth labs" in apartment complexes. houses, and garages, Crystal Meth use is booming, and in its wake people are dying.

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