POLICE CHIEFS ASK OTTAWA FOR NATIONAL DRUG CAMPAIGN

Canada's police chiefs want Ottawa to develop a national campaign to warn
young people about the dangers of drug use at raves.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police made the request in a letter to
federal Health Minister Allan Rock.

Brockville police Chief Barry King, chair of the association's drug abuse
committee, said the chiefs don't want to ban raves, but want an education
program to give young people and their parents the facts about the drug
culture at the all-night dance parties.

King suggests such a campaign would help families regain ground lost to
criminals' systematic efforts to foster the drug culture nationwide.

"The Drug Abuse Committee of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
urges the government of Canada to declare this emerging health crisis as an
urgent, potentially debilitating attack on the fabric of Canadian life
through our youth," the May 8 letter states.

"We request that sufficient funding be committed immediately to provide
information and education to Canadian youth, their parents and communities
about the consequence of drug abuse and specifically ecstasy, ketamine, GHB
and other chemical substances that are being glorified by the organized drug
culture as safe entertainment enhancers," says the letter.

The letter also suggests a national substance abuse prevention program
through Canada's Drug Strategy Division, part of Rock's department.

Toronto police Chief Julian Fantino wrote to Prime Minister Jean Chretien
this month expressing concern about how raves are promoted at schools, with
brochures depicting nudity and drugs. Fantino invited Chretien to attend a
rave to see the drug problem first-hand - and Eric Conroy, an adviser on the
drug committee, said Chretien and Rock should go.

Conroy added organizers promote raves as safe, alcohol-free parties to
parents and tell young people that drugs such as ecstasy are safe.

"The kids believe this," he said. "They are not getting the true story."