DRUG USE HAS RIPPLE EFFECT

While a recent seizure of a large amount of heroin at Calgary
International Airport may not have a direct impact on Airdrie, the
local community does have its drug issues nonetheless.

Drug use in Airdrie has not reached epidemic proportions, but it is
always an issue that has local police concerned.

"I would say cocaine and marijuana are the two main drugs of choice in
the Airdrie area," Airdrie RCMP Cpl. Mark Anderson said, adding that
he has no reason to believe that heroin is a drug of choice in the
community.

The marijuana is often 'home-grown' - police have even busted
marijuana grow ops in Airdrie.

"There's no shortage of grow operations in the Calgary area," Anderson
said.

The cocaine originates mainly from Peru, Bolivia and Columbia, then
makes its way north to such port cities as Vancouver and Montreal
before being distributed to other regions across the country.

In the Calgary region, and Airdrie in particular, powdered cocaine, or
cocaine hydrochloride, is the most often-used form of the drug,
whereas in Edmonton, crack cocaine is the drug of choice. However,
Anderson said that he has no doubt that there are crack users in this
area, even if it is not the most popular form.

One trend which hasn't reached the community - yet - is
methamphetamine use. While that drug appears to be more popular in the
Edmonton area, Calgary and surrounding communities seem to have
escaped the issue to a certain extent.

"It just hasn't taken hold to the same degree in Calgary," Anderson
said, adding that overall, meth use has declined in the province,
perhaps due to education, as well as other factors.

Even though Airdrie has not been hard hit by such drugs as heroin and
crack cocaine, what drug use there is in the community has a ripple
effect. Such crimes as break-ins, robberies and thefts from vehicles
often can be attributed to users attempting to support their habit,
Anderson said.

As well, he said, recent searches and subsequent arrests involving
seizures of weapons, along with alleged drug trafficking
paraphernalia, are disturbing and indicative of how drugs can have a
highly detrimental effect on the surrounding community.

"We have definitely seen a trend of activities taking place in Airdrie
that has given us reason for concern," he said.

As such, he said, there are avenues for community members to help in
the fight against drugs in Airdrie and area.

"We strongly encourage the use of the Crime Stoppers program," he
said.