DRUGS ARE THE PROBLEM, NOT OUTSIDE DEALERS

There is an element of ambiguity in the tales of brutal Outside drug
dealers ruling Whitehorse streets.

The group of 60 young people who asked a drug dealer to leave the
Capital Hotel two weeks ago are being vaunted as heroes, and with some
justification.

And Danika McKenna, a 20-year-old woman who bravely stepped forward to
oversee Saturday's anti-drug rally at Rotary Peace Park, defines the
word "activist."

But stories of thugs beating people with Louisville Sluggers for
innocently being in the wrong place at the wrong time, often don't
quite add up.

At last month's Dustball Dance a man from British Columbia was knocked
unconscious, a person's teeth were bashed out, and a Whitehorse man
had his face split like a log from his lip to his chin.

All three went to hospital.

Two men from BC have been charged for one assault, and eight
investigators are on the case, say the RCMP.

The dance's brutal violence appeared random, and the RCMP has pinned
it on people allegedly involved in the drug trade.

However since that dance a litany of tales have been told -- of group
beatings with baseball bats, of intimidation, of people scared to live
at their houses, of drug dealer surveillance.

And therein lies the moral quandary.

While many have rightly aimed their abhorrence at the source -- drugs
- -- others, under their breath, point out that the violence is being
caused by a new group of drug dealers from Outside.

Though it may be true that a gang of drug pushers with connections to
highly organized elements in southern Canada is now on Whitehorse
streets, we must realize that focusing on this Outside group as the
one and only problem is, at best, xenophobic.

Drugs, the drug industry and our homegrown drug addicts are the
problem.

Whoever these suppliers are, they depend on a local
market.

The RCMP has been criticized lately for not doing enough about drug
dealers.

On the surface, the formula for cleaning up the streets seems
simple.

Identify known drug dealers and drug enforcers -- and these Outside
people stand out to locals like a dog musher stands out in downtown
Toronto -- and bring them to justice.

But are the victims of this group coming forward? And if not, why
not?

The fear of reprisals for going to the RCMP has been presented as one
possible answer.

Unfortunately, another may be that victims of attacks are more
involved in Whitehorse's drug problems than they are letting on.

Some say we may be witnessing a turf war between local and Outside
drug dealers.

Though criticism has also been levied at our politicians for not doing
enough, government should do what it does best -- help people who
cannot help themselves.

Those addicted to drugs should have access to resources help to them
beat their demons.

Those who witness drug deals and violence must feel safe enough to
come forward to police with information.

And the brave young people who are standing face to face with drug
dealers in Whitehorse must be given resources to organize and continue
their good work.

Kicking Outside dealers out will only create a demand that local
dealers would gladly satisfy.

Instead, kicking our addictions must be our singular
goal.

As Ed Schultz pointed out at Saturday's rally, to beat the drug
industry, "You've got to make it unprofitable."