SELLING BONGS IS CONDONING DRUG USE

A couple of weeks ago I read a column by Jason Gariepy (Friday, Feb.
6, Page 8) which made some very valid points.

Our community is saturated with drug addiction, whether we want to
admit it or not. If it wasn't, we would have no use for the Parents
Empowering Parents Group (PEP). When we discuss drug abuse we tend to
think about youth as they are young and impressionable and often times
easily persuaded through peer pressure to try illegal substances. A
lot of the advertising we see that is anti-drug related is focussed
around youth with the philosophy of curb addictions when kids are
young. After reading Friday's article ("Councillor wants bongs gone"
Friday, Feb. 20, Page 3)and seeing the owners of Molly's Mini-Mart try
to justify their sales of paraphernalia to adults only made me ask the
question does that make it OK? And on one hand yes it is. What adults
do behind closed doors is there business and as long as it doesn't
effect me what do I care? But here in lies the problem.

When those adults go to buy these drugs often they are buying them
from dealers who are not responsible and do not have a code of ethics.
They don't care whether the person they are selling to is 35 or 13.
They view it as a sale. Why? Because often people who sell drugs are
addicted to those same drugs and the more they sell the more they can
do. This becomes a vicious circle.

I am also not naive to think that as demands grow more dealers will
want to set up shop here in the Park. Also adults who are doing these
drugs are often doing them secretively and when they are found out it
can tear a family apart.

So often adults will suffer in silence with their addictions because
they do not want the stigma of being a user looming over them.

Bongs and pipes may not be illegal but if there is the slightest
chance that they may be used for something that is immoral or against
the law don't we have a moral obligation to question the sale of them
at the local corner store? If there is easy access to these things in
our community are we not condoning there usage?

Molly Willis I encourage you to go to a PEP meeting and explain to the
mother of a child hooked on crack why you should be able to sell these
items. Please talk to the father of the girl who prostitutes herself
so that she can get that next fix of meth. Speak to the son or
daughter of the parent who has just overdosed and won't be there to
see their life's accomplishments. No Mrs. Willis you probably won't do
this because you are too busy being the victim and cashing in on your
two minutes of fame. You would rather erect a huge sign in front of
your building advertising your big sale. You're no different than the
opportunistic drug dealers looking for a buck.

So when I think about pipes and bongs being sold at the local candy
store it begs me to ask the question what kind of morals and integrity
do these owners have and do their values coincide with mine. I think
not! So will they get my business?

No.

Mrs. Willis I am not a bully.

I am just a guy who stands up for what he believes in and wants to
protect his community and his family.

I have worked in treatment homes and seen the affects of drug use and
the way that it impacts the family.

All to often addicts become addicts out of curiousity and the thought
that "I'll just try it once ." and all to often once is all it takes.

Let your conscience be your guide Mrs. Willis.

Dave Anderson

Sherwood Park