HOOKED ON GREEN

Powder And Hippy Flip

Councillor Comment

Love drug, shrooms, jib, green, powder, and hippy flip are a few of
the cheap and addictive drugs available in Strathcona County. These
drugs are also known to police and addiction treatment counsellors as
ecstasy, hallucinogenic mushrooms, methamphetamine, marijuana,
cocaine, and mushrooms with ecstasy.

Drugs are profitable (street value of marijuana plants are $1,000
apiece) and dealers have targeted our young and affluent community to
sell everything from marijuana and meth to cocaine and ecstasy. Since
the introduction of the RCMP's two-member drug unit, drug possession
charges are up 77 per cent and trafficking charges rose a staggering
162 per cent (2006 to 2007).

The need for more drug officers is acute to prevent dealers from
establishing drug houses in neighbourhoods, especially where families
and children live. Drugs impact us all and are one of the root causes
of crime in our community, resulting in vehicle thefts,
break-and-enters and property damage from graffiti. Several
councillors, including myself, are recommending to increase the number
of officers dedicated to drug enforcement in next year's budget.

But enforcement alone will not solve our drug problem. Substance abuse
is a public health issue that requires equal doses of prevention,
treatment and, of course, enforcement.

Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) is at the frontline of drug education
and prevention. Meeting every second Tuesday at 7 p.m., at County
Hall, PEP hosts open meetings for anyone impacted directly or
indirectly by drug use. Families come together to share their
experiences and learn from others who have struggled and suffered with
addictions. PEP stands by its members and ensures that they are never
alone and have someone to turn to for advice and assistance. Recently,
Strathcona County Council voted unanimously to grant PEP $30,000 so
that the organization could hire an executive director and continue to
expand their vital work and help even more families. For more
information on Parents Empowering Parents, visit www.pepsociety.ca.

Another priority is addictions treatment which is the responsibility
of the provincial government. Treatment providers are stretched to the
limit and families are often forced to send their loved ones outside
of the community or province for help.

Long waiting lists are discouraging for addicts who are seeking
professional help to change their lives.

We need to be able to respond immediately when an addict asks for help
and not push them aside and say that a treatment bed may be available
six months down the road. With the proper treatment programs,
individuals should be able to return to their families and
neighbourhoods, where they can work and contribute back to their community.

Prevention requires the greatest amount of commitment over a sustained
period of time to show results. In the long-term, it will also have
the greatest impact in reducing drug and substance abuse.

Promoting healthy families and addressing the underlying causes of
drug use is critical. Through education and active living, we can
delay the onset of drug use. Research shows that the longer young
people delay using alcohol and other drugs, the less likely they are
to develop an addiction.

There is no simple solution to addressing drugs in our
community.

By making life miserable for drug dealers through enforcement,
providing families with support, increasing the number of treatment
beds for addicts and educating and providing opportunities for active
living for young people, fewer people will be hooked on drugs in our
community.

Jason Gariepy is Councillor for Ward 8 and can be reached at 464-8158
or gariepy@strathcona.ab.ca.