Crystal meth: Saskatchewan’s crime stimulant

The drug addiction crisis across the prairies continues to fuel many crimes in Saskatchewan but there is one drug being blamed above the rest — crystal meth.

Police in Saskatoon and Regina have often pointed to meth as one of the root issues behind serious offences. In May, five people were charged in a drug bust in Saskatoon where police seized 10 kilograms, or 22 pounds, of crystal meth.

But as police work to take as much meth off the streets as possible, the drug is doing its damage both in crime stats and the mental health of those who find themselves under its grasp.

Regina’s Chief Evan Bray pointed to the drug as recently as last week while reporting the crime statistics for 2018, which saw Regina place back near the top of the Crime Severity rankings.

Meth use leading to crime has been a long-term issue plaguing the city. In the summer of 2018, Regina police said their work was getting busier and more dangerous for the SWAT unit, quoting meth for the uptick in some crimes.

The team leader of the SWAT unit, Sgt. Casey Ward, also said meth is changing how suspects respond when police roll up.

980 CJME spoke to Tracy Muggli, director of mental health and addictions services with the Saskatchewan Health Authority to explain meth’s destructive qualities.

How addictive is crystal meth?

Very.

It’s a quick high but lasts longer than other substances like cocaine, according to Muggli.

Meth is also very cheap compared to other drugs with an extremely attractive dopamine high, the natural chemical in the brain that makes people feel good.

“Crystal meth quadruples the rate of pleasure you feel from using cocaine, never mind it’s probably ten-fold of the pleasure people experience, as an example, having sex,” said Muggli.

Following the initial high, meth use quickly starts to have several negative effects.

The worst is what meth does inside your head. It literally changes the brain by damaging its dopamine receptors and in turn, it changes your behaviour.

When people start using meth, Muggli said they might feel they have increased energy. However, that can lead to agitation, anxiety and aggression.

Other common symptoms include a reduced appetite and sleeplessness, causing some people to stay awake for days. Meth can also compromise judgment leading to unsafe needle use and increasing the risk of HIV and Hepatitis C.

Other physical symptoms include minor issues like headaches and dizziness to serious, long-term symptoms like organ failure, heart issues and dental problems.

How meth leads to crime

Muggli said meth is unique in how its changes to the brain affect behaviour.

“If someone’s using meth and they move into that psychotic state or they’re paranoid or they’re feeling like somebody’s going to harm them or they’re feeling this false sense of power or aggression, that’s not as common in, say for example, opioids. People tend to be more aggressive because that’s the nature of what the drug does to your brain,” she said.

The real trouble could come when people try to stop using meth. The drug has a high relapse rate because of how it affects dopamine levels. Users often just want to feel better.

“Because of the high it creates and because of the addictive nature of it, people want to make sure that they have access to it. The issue of crime relates to people needing to do what they have to do to find ways to pay for getting more meth,” said Muggli.

Muggli explained when people come off of meth, they can go into a very low place of depression. She added, a lot of work goes to ensuring there are no suicidal factors and that there’s a safe space provided for the individual.

Treatment

Just like any mental health illness, Muggli said people suffering from crystal meth addiction have a disease of the brain and do want to stop using.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody in our services that we come across that want to be using meth. People are using it for a variety of reasons and circumstances of things that are happening to them in their life,” said Muggli.

She said it’s important to understand the root causes that lead to meth use in the first place. Many people who use meth feel like they need to take a substance to feel better or escape reality, while struggling with a life circumstance or trauma.

Supports required to help patients through crystal meth withdrawal can be quite intensive, covering medical and social supports.

Some people choose to enter into the detox program, while others take the harm reduction approach to minimize the effects of meth. That includes providing access to needle exchange to reducing the risk of HIV.

Generally, the same approach is taken as with many other drugs with one big challenge. For example, doctors use methadone to treat opioid dependence but Muggli said that kind of option isn’t available for meth users.

“With crystal meth there’s not really that pharmaceutical aspect to supporting people with withdrawal management. There hasn’t been enough research done in the field to give us any evidence of a pharmaceutical option,” said Muggli.

Instead, treatment is more talk-based with motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy along with providing a safe space to recover.