HOUSEWRECKER PARTY JUST PART OF PROBLEM

'Hell Week' s Out Of Control: Police

Concerned Ladner parents were given more to worry about last night
when Delta police warned of the growing number of "Hell Week" parties
involving teenagers.

About 150 parents and children had gathered at a community hall in a
bid to understand how a house party last weekend resulted in $70,000
damage to the home and a 13-year-old girl in hospital with alcohol
poisoning.

However, during the question-and-answer period involving police and
parents, Delta police superintendent Steve Ramsden explained last
weekend's incident was part of a larger cultural problem among Ladner
youth.

"When I came here 20 years ago, Grade 12 students held Hell Night
after the first day back at school [in September]," Ramsden said.

Since then, as students have become wiser to police tactics to deal
with the drinking and partying on the night, the problem has expanded
to include several nights and younger teens attending events.

Ramsden told the crowd that last September he confronted parents who
had bought alcohol for their teens and allowed them to go unescorted
to a local park to party.

"They go there, they drink as much as possible and that's part of the
Ladner culture," he said.

One parent asked police if they had heard a rumour that a bag full of
crystal meth was brought to last weekend's party and anyone who wanted
some could help themselves.

Delta Secondary healthy lifestyles coordinator Derek Gulkison
explained that was highly unlikely, then fielded questions about
crystal meth.

Parents agreed that when they were young alcohol and marijuana were
the only drugs they dealt with. Police then advised marijuana today is
up to 200 per cent more potent than it was a decade ago.

Ramsden said last weekend's horror party was made worse because most
teens now have cellphones.

"About every kid has a cell-phone now," Ramsden said.

"There were kids sitting in McDonald's in Ladner when they heard about
the party."