A 'PROACTIVE STEP' IN REDUCING DRUG USE

Oxford OPP drug enforcement officers schooled Drumbo and area
residents on the local drug scene last night during a presentation.

The information session was initiated by the newly formed Blandford-
Blenheim police services board as a proactive step to reducing drug
use among youth in the township.

OPP Staff Sgt. Tim Clark said parents need to open up the lines of
communication with their children.

"The big thing here is talking to your children, not accusing them,
but keeping informed," Clark said.

"It's a busy world now and we don't sit at the kitchen table and talk
like we used to ... There is just not as much communication."

He said parents also need to be cognizant of their child's behaviour
to notice any changes that may be a sign of drug use.

These changes can be everything from a change of friends or interests
to overall changes in attitude, Clark said.

OPP Const. Dennis Harwood added it is usually a combination of things.

"If your child's grades drop, it doesn't automatically mean they are
on drugs," he said. "You will see more than one thing. There are
clues out there."

Police also encourage parents to know what drug paraphernalia looks
like, so they can also watch for these more physical clues. They
suggest going online or seeking out other forums to educate
themselves on drugs and addiction.

"Knowledge is power," youth resource worker Const. Michelle Murphy said.

The more you know, she added, the better you are able to deal with a
situation when it happens. Murphy, who works in the schools in
Oxford, said drug use affects all groups of people.

"We see it in high-achievers, in the honour students and jocks
because they are stressed out," she said, adding they are trying to
keep up with all the extracurriculars while maintaining good marks.

She said there are also preteens, some as young as 12 years old,
experimenting with drugs, often because that is what they grew up
with at home. Clark added that there is an epidemic of kids using
prescription medication illegally.

"It's getting as bad as street level drugs," he said.

And as a farming community, Clark said outdoor marijuana grow
operations are common, but the potential for dangerous indoor grows
and meth labs is also there.

The Oxford OPP encourages residents to contact police or Crime
Stoppers anonymously if they suspect illegal drug activity in their area.