TISDALE — The Tisdale RCMP are asking for people to educate themselves on methamphetamine, following a rise in the community.
“We are starting to see methamphetamine in our community. We’ve had three instances where there has been people suffering from methamphetamine-induced psychosis,” said Sgt. Wanita Minty with the Tisdale RCMP.
“The health practitioners are starting to see it in our hospitals, we’re starting to see it in our cells. If you have a family member you’re worried about, educate yourself on what you’re seeing – reach out to mental health, reach out to the police, reach out to your family doctor.”
In response, the Tisdale RCMP are canvassing for locations and dates to give presentations on “The meth situation in Canada”.
“It’s here, and I hope it doesn’t get any worse, but we’ll start to do some education and hopefully take hold of it,” she said.
“You need to educate yourself on what the signs and symptoms are of addiction.”
Methamphetamine is an addictive drug which gives a short-term euphoric rush, increased heart rate and blood pressure, elevated body temperature, decreased appetite, as well as headache and stomach pain.
Effects of an overdose include enlarged pupils; rapid, slowed or irregular heart rate; difficulty breathing; chest pains; convulsions; heart attack; stroke; high blood pressure; kidney failure; stomach pain; altered mental status; agitation; and paranoia.
Withdrawal symptoms include depression, anxiety and a strong craving.
Minty said once someone has an addiction to the drug, it’s not typically something they can stop without intervention.
“Drugs have a stigma. They think that only criminals do it, they think that that person doesn’t deserve help – they should just get off it themselves. Once you’re on methamphetamine I don’t know if you can get off yourself. I think the whole community needs to band together to get someone off it. They need support.”
The number for Tisdale Mental Health and Addiction Services is 306-873-3760.
“We can’t throw these people away, they need support,” Minty said.
“I know that, unfortunately, we see lots of them come back and forth through the justice system for years.”
She said there is one man who she met seven years ago in the north east who struggled with a methamphetamine addiction, and always wanted to quit – but couldn’t.
“He’s struggled every year – and he’s never been able to get over it. He wants to. He tells me every time he wants to. So what more can he do? Where’s the help for him? I don’t know, but we need to educate people so they don’t do it at all.”
If someone is believed to be having an overdose, they are recommended to call 911 immediately for medical assistance.
