MAYOR NEEDS TO OPEN HIS EYES TO DRUG USE

Re: Mayor angered over crack house comments, Forester article, February 23.

As a psychiatrist who has worked in Muskoka and the Almaguin area for
13 years, I found the comments by Huntsville mayor Hugh Mackenzie on
drug problems in Huntsville a little anachronistic at best.

I agree with Sergeant Gordon that their are crack houses, as he
defines them, in Huntsville. Furthermore, I have learned that the
'high' in Huntsville High School refers to altered states of
awareness. Cocaine has been a problem since the '80s here.

I do not agree with Sergeant Gordon, however, in so far as I believe
drug use and sales appears to be more prevalent in Huntsville. I am
not clear as to the reasons thus far. Further north, marijuana seems
more prevalent, which I suppose explains why people in Burk's Falls
are much more jovial. I have no clever solutions other than for
Mackenzie to not keep his eyes wide shut.

Allan Seltzer MD

FRCP MRCP (UK)

Sundridge