TEEN THREATENS HIS OWN FAMILY

Drug addiction hurts more people than just the user.

Burnaby RCMP officers found that out first-hand this week when they
attended an incident in north Burnaby.

Police found a family in fear after their 17-year-old son, a crack
cocaine user, had threatened his older sister and woken up the
neighbourhood with his yelling and screaming. When the youth was
apprehended, RCMP found two cans of pepper spray and a knife in his
pockets.

"This happens more than people think," said Corp. Pierre Lemaitre,
media liaison officer for the Burnaby detachment. "There are a lot of
victims of someone else's drug abuse that suffer in silence. Many
families become victimized."

Drug abuse almost always affects the loved ones of the user, said
Lemaitre. He gave the example of officers responding to a residential
break-in. After some initial investigation police discover the
drug-addicted son or daughter is responsible for the burglary.

Families are devastated when they find this out, said
Lemaitre.

But he encourages families to not suffer in silence and ask for help.
An excellent resource is the RCMP's Victim Services. It's anonymous
and confidential, stressed Lemaitre, with no police involved unless
the victim asks for it.

The north Burnaby incident, which took place in the 5200-block of
Georgia Street, took place early Thursday morning. When police arrived
the youth had fled but he was later tracked down. While being arrested
the male yelled and screamed at his father. The family explained to
police their son's deteriorating behaviour had reached a point where
they felt uncomfortable and threatened.

This call was a small example of the negative impact drug abuse has on
society, said Lemaitre.

Victim Services is an important resource and can offer referrals to
various other agencies that can help.