CURRENT STRATEGIES NO FIX TO DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM

Something is badly out of whack. People are openly using drugs, the
government is paying for their paraphernalia, which means you and I are
footing the bill, and millions of dollars across the country are being
poured into drug programs with little or no impact on the problem.

Municipal governments are crying for treatment centres, users are
committing crimes to pay for their habits, and some of our most picturesque
parts of our National Capital Region are becoming eyesores, are unsafe and
what used to be a major tourist attraction, the market area, is fast
gaining a reputation of being a place to avoid at any cost.

The needle exchange program is really not an exchange program at all when
reports say that ordinary citizens have taken it upon themselves to search
play areas with green garbage bags to rid places frequented by children of
discarded needles. These needles are not exchanged ... they are thrown away
with no thought given to their potential danger to the innocent.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that users are sick people. Many are
unable to kick the habit that is slowly taking their lives. Communities are
screaming for treatment centres. None are available.

A very good point was made recently by someone who pointed out that if a
person was suffering from a disease that would be a threat to humanity,
that person would immediately be put into isolation. We don't let people
infected with tuberculosis mingle with the public. They are immediately put
into hospital for treatment for their own and the public's safety. That is
the law.

And yet, drug users can refuse treatment. It is their constitutional right.
Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

The beginning of a drug user's habit starts somewhere. Many began smoking
up while still in elementary school. With continued usage, by the time they
are adults, for many, the drugs have such a hold on them, irreparable
damage has been done and, without treatment, there is no turning back. They
move from soft drugs to the deadly. The addict is born.

And the traffickers and dealers will see that their addictions hold. They
can't survive without the addict.

It's easy to blame the police for not cracking down on the open use of
drugs and the pushers. But we must remember they are hampered everywhere
they turn by laws in Canada that favour the offender.

There is no doubt many people are occasional users, and never go on to
become addicted. Why they need drugs to be the life of the party, or handle
the little disappointments they face, is another whole issue and remains a
mystery to me.

If anyone is caught using or is in possession of drugs, they can face
charges. Those who are charged and get their day in court, in many people's
estimation, are given such weak sentences, it's laughable.

Statistics Canada has fi gures up to and including 2005 to 2006. The
numbers following are for adults only. Youth numbers are lower and I
suppose, for that, we should be grateful.

In that period, there were 13,190 cases of drug possession before the
Canadian courts and 10,889 for drug traffi cking. Of these cases, 7,395
were found guilty of drug possession and 6,128 adults were found guilty of
traffi cking. More than 2,000 adults got conditional sentences, 565
probation, and only 358 were dealt fi nes and that was also for traffi
cking. There were 2,706 adults found guilty of traffi cking and were sent
to custody.

Does it seem to you that it is a bigger crime to cheat on your income tax
than it is to be caught selling drugs? And why, when we are aiding the
addict on the streets in Ottawa and, in my opinion, encouraging their drug
habit, are they not arrested?

The abuse of drugs has become one of the major social catastrophes of our
country. The cost in human lives lost from the use, and money spent on
drugs, cannot even be estimated.

Has it gone so far that it cannot be repaired? Are our laws actually
encouraging the use of drugs?

If that is the case, what a sad legacy to leave to our next generation.