TAKE A STAND AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

It is said that alcoholism is a family disease because of the impact
on the entire family. Similarly, I would claim that drugs are a
community problem because of the impact on the entire community.
Recently there have been several drug related arrests in the St. Paul area.

Drug problems are not restricted to the users but they also have a
serious impact on our community. In the throne speech, the Government
of Alberta mentioned that one of its priorities for 2009 is to study
the impact of organized crime on the justice system. Why is our
provincial government so concerned about this problem? Because the
financial burden on police, courts and the prison system is enormous.

In St. Paul, the annual budget for police alone is $900,000 and I
would be willing to bet that the majority of serious crimes officers
face are either directly or indirectly related to drugs.

The drugs involved now-a-days are highly addictive and cause serious
damage to the users' emotional judgment and conscience. Crack is a
smokable form of cocaine that rapidly enters the blood stream and
produces an immediate high. Methamphetamine (or crystal meths) is a
very potent form of speed.

These drugs attack the central nervous system and literally change
the brain and the body's chemicals rendering the addict incapable of
normal social and moral reasoning. A person on these drugs cannot be
reasoned with. They will rob, steal and kill to get more drugs.

Why do we tolerate this in our community? Are we co-dependents? I
pose these not as accusations but as serious questions. This is a
serious problem in our community, costing all of us a lot of money
and putting innocent citizens and police officers at risk every day.
If this were some sort of alien invasion taking over the bodies and
minds of people, we would be mobilizing in a big way to stop this.

Co-dependents typically tolerate unacceptable behaviour, make excuses
and even protect, defend and rationalize the addict's actions. Are we
acting as co-dependents for drugs in our community?

If this problem is so prevalent in out community then there are
people who know about it and look the other way. Why? Sgt. Lorne
Adamitz of K Division with the Drugs & Organized Crime Awareness
Services (DOCAS) said that often after someone has been arrested
family members confirm that they knew that something was wrong but
were afraid to say anything because they had no proof.

I am thinking that it is the job of the police to find "proof." I
believe this problem extends beyond the family members, to neighbours
and community members. There are people who know that there is a
crack house two blocks over but they don't report it.

It is our job as citizens to report suspicions to the police. They
will check out the story and if there is nothing to it, they will not
press charges. No harm done. However, they cannot check anything out
if they are not informed. They need information. The local RCMP do an
excellent job, but they need the support and help to let them know
when something is wrong. They are not mind readers.

It is time we take a stand against this problem and take back our community.