Parents warned of new meth

Designed to look like strawberry candy

By Susan Larson | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, May 19, 2007

Methamphetamine is coming this way in a form intended to target youth, local law enforcement officials said. Called "Strawberry Quick," it looks like the popular "Pop Rocks" candy. It is dark pink in color and has a strawberry scent to it.

While the new meth doesn’t appear to have made it to this area yet, it’s only a matter of time, police said.

“The only reason I can imagine,” Fergus Falls Police Captain Steve Adams said, “is to entice young users. It doesn’t surprise me. We’ll see it sooner or later.”

“It’s been around for a while,” said Detective Kevin Sonstebo, school resource officer at Fergus Falls schools. “In late November we started hearing about it. It started on the West Coast in the California area and it’s working its way to the Midwest. So far I haven’t seen it in our schools.”

The drug is discussed when Sonstebo and Jim Schaffer, chemical dependency counselor at Fergus Falls High School, present information to students.

“The kids know it’s out there. They’ve heard of it,” Sonstebo said. “Hopefully, they’ll stay away from it.”

“Parents are the best deterrents,” Adams said. “Talk to your kids. It used to be you’d tell your kids to stay away from strangers, but now even if your friends give you something and you don’t know what it is, don’t take it.”

Police say parents should warn their children to be cautious in accepting candy even from friends.