ILLEGAL DRUG OFFENCES HAVE DECREASED IN NANTON

The Calgary Police Service states that drug related offences have
increased overall by three per cent since last year to date, but
according to RCMP Corporal David Friend, Nanton's drug scene has not
moved alongside Calgary's.

Friend explained there will always be a certain amount of recreational
use of softer drugs like marijuana, and once in a while there will be
a "rash of people using the harder drugs," particularly
methamphetamines, or crystal meth, but for the most part the Nanton
RCMP detatchment rarely has to respond to specific drug offences.
Friend said there have been few problems concerning drug possession in
Nanton as of late, and that trafficking in Nanton is typically not a
problem in town.

"We're close enough to the city where we don't really have a serious
drug dealing problem in town," Friend said. "What (users) will do is
drive up to High River or Okotoks and get some drugs and bring them
back."

Although crack cocaine use is still a minor issue in town, Friend
explained that the biggest problem Nanton has had with drug-related
offences occurred last fall when crystal meth use had drastically
risen. He said crystal meth had been gaining in popularity in
Claresholm and Fort Macleod and eventually made its way to Nanton.
Friend said the RCMP had to respond to more "spin-off" crimes that
resulted from the increased crystal meth use in Nanton, such as
increased cases of domestic abuse. Friend said such offences have
declined as the supply of the drug dried up in the spring.

"The problem struck a few individuals in town which was a real eye
opener to a lot of others," Friend said. "Now we've kind of plateaued
as far as the outbreak of crystal meth goes. There is not a lot of new
use but (we're) still dealing with issues of the people that got
involved with it right in the beginning."

Friend said the courts only take possession of soft drugs very
seriously if the accused had more than 30 grams on him or her. He also
explained that smaller detachments don't have the time or resources to
put together investigations to target smaller operations, but from
time to time drug teams will make "opportunity buys" in smaller areas
to arrest those involved in the drug scene.

"But if you go to some kids partying in the park and they have dope on
them they're going to get charged," Friend said.