Alberta sees spike in youth reporting meth use, seeking help

The number of young people seeking treatment for meth addictions in Alberta has nearly doubled since 2012, according to statistics from Alberta Health Services.

In the 2016-2017fiscal year, 690 Albertansunder 18 said they had used the drug in the past five years, compared to 373 in 2012-2013.

• 'Alarming' rise inmethand IV drug use by Edmonton youth

Last year,714 youth reported using methwithin the previous five years.

Alberta Health Services collected the data from peopleseeking addiction or mental health support though provincial clinics and programs.

"It is very important help is available to youth who struggle with a substance-use issue," AHS spokesperson Kerry Williamson wrote in an email to CBC News.

"Alberta Health Services has seen an increase in crystal meth use among young Albertans and continues to provide a variety of treatment and support for youth dependent on their needs."

Young people struggling with addiction can turn to Alberta Health for assessments, counselling, detoxification, day and residential treatment, as well as aftercare.

'The new kids' marijuana'

Youth worker Jessica Day said the numbers are alarming though not surprising. She has witnessedmethaddiction sweep the overnight youth shelter at YESS Edmonton, where she works as the program manager.

"Meth is one of the biggest drugs that we do deal with here in our population of homeless youth.It'swhat we like to call the new kids'marijuana," Day said.

"It feels safe for them to use because everyone's using it so it doesn't quite feel like a hardcore drug, even though it is."

Natashatried her first hit ofmethat theYESSshelter where Day works,after another resident offered her the drug.The 20-year-oldasked not to share her last name.

"It just gave me energy that I've never had,"Natashasaid."I'm a little bit overweight, as well, and it made me feel good when I looked in the mirror. It just took all the stresses away from me."

Within days, Natasha went back for more.

She didn't think of the drug as a problem at first,Natashasaid. The high helped her cope with depression and self-harm.

I didn't want anyone to know I had an addiction and I kept on lying to myself, too.- Natasha, YESS Edmonton shelter resident

When her friend's stash ran out,Natashasaid she started buying and snortingmethalone.

"I wanted to be discreet about it though," she said."I didn't want anyone to know I had an addiction and I kept on lying to myself, too."

Six months later,Natashasaid she was racked with paranoia, convinced someone was following her. She craved the drug constantly. Shestopped eating and grew distant from her friends.

"I reached out for help," she said."I just feltlike a whole different person."

With support from staff at theshelter,Natashasaid she fought for months through cravings and relapses.

"The withdrawals were so hard but I kept on telling myself that I wanted to become a better person," she said.

For the past two months, Natashahas been clean. Last week, shestarted classesatNorQuestCollege and she plans to become a social worker.

"My life's been in a better place but now I see other people using," she said."Seeing that's really hard.

"That could have been me struggling as hard as them."

'Real, raw data is a rare gem'

When Day checks on the shelter at night, she finds teens and young adults sucking their thumbs, clutching teddy bears or crying quietly.

"They're just kids," Day said."Kids are not equipped to handle the level of trauma that they're facing.

"It's easy when you're in a group of youth in the shelter or in the community who are also dealing with the same thing and they have a quick, easy way for them to get through those emotions."

She hopes the numbers from AHS move the province to dedicate more funding to youth addiction resources, Day said.

"To get real, raw data is a rare gem," she said.

"For these numbers to come out just tells their story in a way that's going to bring funding, education, programming."