CRACK KNOCKS IN LEASIDE

It is 11 p.m.  on a Sunday night as I find myself on an Internet search entering the words "crack," "cocaine" and symptoms." I considered adding "14-year-old girl," but decided against it because of the search results I might potentially get.

The stresses of Grade 9, teenage hormones kicking in and the challenges that have become part of normal life for a teenager had been thought to be the reasons for the agitated behavior and outbursts.  Periodic episodes of anger and detachment had become more frequent and the defiance had increased.  Yes, there were skipped classes, supposedly because a teacher "was just stupid" and intolerable.  And there had been overnight stays, approved with a late evening phone calls from a friend's house.

The level of agitated behavior was increasing .  .  .  challenge, rage, swearing, door-slamming escalating into throwing things and lashing out for no apparent reason.  All these seemed an extreme overreaction to the minor upsets and requests.  It was all part of what was unfolding very quickly to be a new reality of life.  Defiance, sleeplessness and detachment grew.  There began to be phone calls from strangers, calling from payphones who would not leave their name or a message, sometimes, hanging up without a word.

The thought even while writing this is .  .  .  "Whoa, this doesn't happen, such things don't happen so quickly!" But they did.  In just a few weeks, the world was skidding fast and a 14-year-old, Grade 9 student was finding herself on the exit ramp of any possibilities for a quality life.

This was in Leaside, a quiet, good community.  The sweet 14-year-old was like a second daughter to some in the neighborhood where she and her two brothers had grown up.  They had attended the same schools and had the same teachers as the 14-year-old.  She was a part of the community.  What happened?

It was just once.

Some older boys and a house party.  Sounds cliche.  It was just once.  She tried it.  Once.  "It was cool.  It couldn't hurt," she thought.  Crack .  .  .  this immediately addictive, readily available, inexpensive, manufactured drug took hold with claws going deeper to keep from being removed from this young girl's future.  Crack's high, its empowering, "calming" influence compelled its next use.

My mind imagined some inner-city, destitute situation.  I had always associated crack with urban problems, dead-end living and joylessness.  This was not Leaside.  I imagined it being given no chance in a clean-living place.  But I read further.

The first offer is always free.  It had been free at first to the 3.1 million crack-addicted teenagers known in the USA.  Following that first "trial," just $5 to $10 had purchased another ecstatic, euphoric, though short-lived high.  The crack was easily concealed and taken in a number of ways.  The websites echoed a common phrase; "highly, instantly addictive."

Almost every Internet site I looked into echoed another word.  "Denial" .  .  .  "expect the user to deny."

As I read further, the point about "denial" was broadened to include friends and family members, whose minds could not or would not believe the absolute addictiveness of the first use of this manufactured chemical.  I found myself, as I sat there, not wanting to believe, but I knew it was probably true.

The symptoms were there, including radical shifts in behavior, easy agitation, violence, and self-separation from friends, family and activities.  It did not matter that she was a Grade 9, 14-year-old girl, and not some inner city down-and-outer.  Reality set in, and a finger pointed to crack cocaine use.

It had to be confirmed or ruled out.  The only way to be sure was through blood test.  There was resolve.

Amid protest and tears ( of sorrow, anguish or frustration ) it was put to her simply.  "If the blood test is clean there will be relief, but if it is not, it is clear that her life is no longer her own .  .  .  it really belongs to the drug, and it must be taken back."

There was concern that the 14-year-old would "bolt," finding her way toward the source of "happiness." And so freedom was withdrawn until there was the knowledge that her life was not held by the crack.  It, not her, was the enemy, taking on and consuming the body, mind, spirit and future of this person.  "It," the drug, was not to be trusted if "it" was in charge.  Any reuse would just deepen the pit, so a full assault on this terrible force was the only option.  It was a battle for the life of a daughter, sister, student, friend, a middle class Grade 9er from a nice community.  It is the battle against an invading, heartless, indiscriminate, evil.

It would be very good if the results came back negative to crack use, but it is doubtful.  Another chapter is opening on life.  Today it was learned that one of the girls in the group ( yes, about 14, a friend and a previous sleepover host ) had been raped on the weekend.  It is a new chapter indeed.  One of protection and growth.

Lyle Bunn has published more than 30 articles for Clear Channel Communications and various White Papers, he is a periodic guest as an advanced technologies specialist for Business of Success radio that reaches 850,000 listeners through 65 US stations.

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Where To Turn

It can often be difficult for teens or parents to communicate with each other about drugs and drug use.  The following is just some places to go to reach out in time of need:

Kids Help Phone -- 1-800-668-6868: KidsHelp

Parent Help Line -- 1-888-603-9100: ParentHelp

YWCA of Greater Toronto Family Support Centre -- 416-266-1232: YWCA

Central Toronto Youth Services -- 416-924-2100: CTYS

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health -- 416-535-8501: CAMH

Deslisle Youth Services 416-489-9586

East York & East Toronto Family Resources -- 416-686-3390

Family Service Association of Toronto -- 416-595-9618: FSA Toronto