CRACK KITS NOT WHERE IT'S AT

Last week I wrote about the interview conducted with Jessica and her mother
Heather.

Heather called me this week clearly perplexed at the decision by our
Medical Officer of Health to hand out free crack kits.

Heather is not alone.

In fact our Chief of Police Vince Bevan is scratching his head as well and
is quoted as saying, "Quite frankly, I have some problems with the crack
cocaine pipes that are being distributed in this community," said Mr.
Bevan. "I see this initiative that enables drug use and I fear that we will
be picking up these kits on streets, in parks and school yards."

Certainly my issue with this project is not the cost; it is only some
$5,000. I believe, as does the Chief, that this is not a harm reduction
program because it is focused on stopping the spread of HIV and hepatitis C
and does absolutely nothing about the connection between drug use and
criminality.

As is often the case levels of government who wish to appear "like" they
are dealing with societal/criminal problems while merely throwing a little
money at what is the "pimple" on a very large iceberg.

Sadly some in this society buy in to left wing, halfbaked, programs such as
this.

Folks please tell me that you agree that this is just another case where we
are doing some thing to look like we are doing some thing not taking
effective action.

Even Dr. Cushman admits that there are not enough rehab, jail cells, police
officers, etc. available in our city and that the cost per spot is
prohibitive but excuse me in my opinion a cost of five cents would be too
much for this program.

We don't even have a detox centre but here we are handing out crack kits.
In fact we send kids to the States which wastes more time while parents
wait for OHIP approval.

Recently Louise Logue, youth intervention manager for the Ottawa Police
Services and known to many in this community, told me about a 12 year old
prostitute being forced to recruit others into her habit/lifestyle and the
parents didn't even know!

Last week a couple of our Barrhaven teens were charged with assault causing
bodily harm. One of these punks had previously threatened to "slice
someone's throat open".

Good and good as well to the kids charged with panhandling at the Walter
Baker. Why do you think they are panhandling drugs of course?

Are the lines of communication open between you and your kids? Bring it on
police officers; you have my support and I am sure that of all Ottawa
residents. I have been telling you of the good work stemming from this
community's community partners committee (all the principals of your
children's Barrhaven schools and our community police).

Our next meeting will be held April 8, here in Barrhaven and we will be
discussing all this I am sure.

At the last meeting I had suggested a youth team/committee of Barrhaven kids