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Addicts warned about dangers of crystal meth
DRUG users in Peterborough are being warned not to get involved with highly addictive crystal meth after a "lab" was discovered in the city.
DRUG users in Peterborough are being warned not to get involved with highly addictive crystal meth after a "lab" was discovered in the city.The dangerous drug – also known as methamphetamine, or ice – can cause a range of health problems including "meth mouth" where a user's teeth drop out leaving rotten stumps behind.
The warning from city detectives comes after Philip Ackroyd (47), of Towler Street, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to producing methamphetamine – the first case of its kind in the county.
Today, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Ridgway said: "It's a very, very unpleasant drug. We want to educate drug users in Cambridgeshire there's no point at all in getting involved with methamphetamine.
"It's very dangerous to your health. Just think of the risks to yourself and your family."
Police are on red alert for any reports of the drug in Peterborough and are also checking that dealers are not trying to get addicts of other drugs hooked by mixing it with ecstasy, or substituting it for crack cocaine, after incidents elsewhere in the UK.
DCI Ridgway said: "It might be the case that dealers are trying to encourage younger people who use ecstasy to get them hooked on methamphetamine. The ecstasy market has been decreasing over the last few years, and there has been some effort by dealers to regenerate that, which is concerning.
"It is also comparable to crack cocaine in appearance. Some users may inadvertently buy it, which is why we need to educate people."
The drug has been popular in Canada and the US since the 1960s when biker gangs began using it. But the drug has devastated communities.
The stimulant is said to be highly addictive and causes paranoia and psychological problems.
Now the drug has started to appear in the UK with police forces uncovering about 30 labs so far. But the discovery of hazardous chemicals at Ackroyd's former home in Herlington, Orton Malborne, was the first of its kind in Cambridgeshire.
DCI Ridgway said: "It changes people's behaviour and gives a propensity to be violent, paranoid and psychotic.
The effect really shouldn't be underestimated. It's a synthetic drug and the acids are extremely damaging to the body. It causes a lot of damage and massive skin problems.
"The acids destroy people's teeth really quickly so users are just left with rotten stumps. We haven't seen that in the UK yet, but we are starting to see some effects on a national basis. The drug makes the skin feel continually itchy, so addicts end up with huge unsightly wounds on their body.
"We don't see a huge problem with methamphetamine in the county, but it is gradually becoming more noticeable.
"Even one methamphetamine lab is one too many. This isn't about trying to create undue public concern, it's a realistic threat for the UK."One of the biggest dangers of crystal meth is the risk of explosion as users mix dangerous chemicals together when making the drug.
Police are working with the fire service, ambulance and health officials to ensure contingency plans are ready to deal with any suspected labs.
DCI Ridgway said: "Officers need to wear full breathing apparatus, and we used a scientist from the Forensic Science Service to assess the level of danger at the flat in Orton Malborne. That was quite low so we were able to use low-level officers to do a search.
"But there can be a significant health risk from inhaling the chemicals or from a fire or explosion. If the chemicals get absorbed into walls, the premises may have to be demolished – that can cause real problems if it is in a block of flats."
Making the drug also produces a large amount of hazardous waste.
The drug is popular in Eastern Europe, however, dealers face a tough challenge breaking into the UK narcotic market.
DCI Ridgway said: "It is a significant problem within eastern european countries such as the Czech Republic.
"Dealers would target the crack cocaine and heroin markets, but they are both well established so there isn't necessarily a gap for meth to take off like it has in other parts of Europe."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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