As the use of methamphetamine continues at an incredible rate in Winnipeg, organizations both struggle to keep pace and marvel at the amazing work God is doing through the city's drug crisis.

Jeremy Zehr, a community minister with Inner City Youth Alive (ICYA), says that meth is something that the organization is seeing as an increasing concern over the past number of years in Winnipeg's north end.

According to Zehr, methamphetamine has become a "drug of choice" for many individuals in their community.

"Over the last two years for sure, I think we've seen a lot of the... effects of it that are just a lot more plain (sic) now," explained Zehr. "The number of people we see walking around who have a lot of belongings with hem and then also having conversations with people... we've seen an increase."

 

"Confusing and scary"

As a community minister, Zehr has seen firsthand the effect of meth use on individuals over the course of both short- and long-term use.

"At first, it's very confusing... and scary, because the way the individual talks about it is that it has happened or is currently happening, and with their emotion and concern, you quickly think, 'wow, is this really happening?'"

Hallucinations and paranoia are two key side-effects of meth, and those who use the drug often report of people following them, trying to kill them, and other violent situations.

"I've had to learn that oftentimes those concerns are imagined."

Zehr has had to train himself, as part of his work in ministry, to discern when those he is interacting with are speaking about real events as opposed to fictitious events as brought on by the use of methamphetamine.

"I still do my best to listen and to make sure they know they are heard and that I care, but then also kind of gently reminding them as well that this is part of symptoms of meth and trying to reassure them... though that may not convince them," Zehr shared. "From my standpoint, I've had to learn that oftentimes those concerns are imagined."

Investing in each person

Oftentimes, the key to breaking down the walls built by drugs, especially trust-impairing drugs such as meth, is getting to know each person. The community minister says that it helps him to know each individual at IYCA that he comes in contact with, especially when it comes to calming them down from a high and finding a way to speak with them about their hallucinations.

"One individual that I come in contact with," said Zehr, "how I interact with him  is a concern for his wellbeing with regards to the drug and with regards to his living situation, and trying just to walk alongside him and offer help when he's ready."

Another individual, Zehr says, finds himself constantly thinking about God and the spiritual realm, giving the minister an opportunity to speak with him on his faith and even allowing Zehr to pray with him, something that he is very receptive to.

"That gives me a real invitation into speaking into that with him, just reassuring him that God does care, that God loves him right now in that state, and that also, his heart breaks for him because of the struggle that he is in."

The power of prayer

The growing influence of meth in Winnipeg has also led to an increase in prayer at ICYA, the community minister says.

"Over the last number of years, we've been praying here at ICYA as a group about what to do."

The answers to that question have not been quick to come, but Zehr says that is not something that has prevented the organization from acting now.

"We're continuing to lean into it and to try to listen and discern if and what our role as an organization is or could be in our community."

Prayer has also been an instrumental force in ministering to those caught up in meth use. Zehr says that often, he will ask someone if they would be comfortable with him praying over them.

"The majority of times they are comfortable with that, but I want them to make sure that they are the ones who are choosing to do this or not."

There is hope

"The encouragement I try to offer is there is hope, even if they don't feel it at the time or they don't see it."

But while Zehr says that hope absolutely exists amidst Winnipeg's ongoing battle with methamphetamine, it is something he knows can be fleeting for those who are battling addiction themselves as well as supporting those working through struggles with addiction.

"That has to be something that I believe as well, for it to be genuine," Zehr shared. "Do I really believe that God can help them and that there is hope and that there is another way?"

In the work Zehr does with ICYA, routinely working with those whose lives meth has impacted, it can often be challenging to maintain a mindset of hope.

"I have to be honest, at times, too, it's frustrating," says Zehr. But in the midst of the struggle and the addiction, the community minister still believes that God is working; that He cares and wants something better.

"I think that hope is something I try to encourage them in without diminishing what they're feeling because they have to be heard first."

It's a matter of listening, Zehr once again points out, as well as being "hopeful, both for and with that person."

Pray for those on the outside

Meth is, like any drug, one that can take control of your life. A community response to those who are watching loved ones struggle with this addiction is especially tough to deal with.

"I think one of the hardest things is for families to have healthy boundaries for somebody who is struggling with meth," Zehr explained. Knowing when it's going to be helpful to invite family who are using into your home, as opposed to when to lovingly close your door to them, is something very difficult for families to not only discern but also to follow through on.

"Being in psychosis, it's oftentimes a different person," shared Zehr, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries for the protection of yourself and others you love physically and emotionally from the pain that their loved one is going through.

"Keeping connection alive but having appropriate and healthy limits to how we do that and when we do that."

Hope in real life

Zehr believes strongly in those affected by the meth crisis or any other form of drug use seeking help from those who can actually help them. It is through these organizations and a decision made by the individual themselves that hope really can flourish in a tangible way.

"One young man that has been a friend and I've been close to for a number of years just currently went through detox and he is currently in an addictions treatment program," Zehr recounted.

"It took him a lot of courage to do that and I'm very excited for him and proud of him."

For many individuals, it may take a number of tries at various organizations to finally reach the necessary willpower and devotion required to combat addiction.

"This young man, he's on his third try in three years, and sometimes it takes time to get up the courage to try again," says Zehr. But studies and experience both point to repeated efforts trying to get clean resulting in better outcomes for those who do wish to find a way out of the darkness of their addiction and into the light.

"It's a success, and I think it's important to acknowledge and to celebrate those successes with people all along the journey."

Meeting people where they're at and leaving the thought of saving them behind is the ultimate hope for Zehr in his position as community minister at ICYA.

"The God that I follow, that I believe in, that I believe is our God is a God who... cares about each one of us," the minister explained. Knowing that God cares about each and every person in the city and the world at large, Zehr is focusing on ensuring that each and every individual he interacts with knows that and knows that there is more.

"Pray for a breaking down of the stigma," Zehr requests, "if we can break down the stigma behind it and see that these people are created in God's image, that they have families, they have hopes and dreams of their own and they're just hurting; if we can break down the stigma that they're bad people or they're inferior people... and view them as friends, neighbours, brothers and sisters, that would be huge."