DRUG USE ESCALATES AMONG YOUTH IN CITY

Young people face a very different drug world today than when Steve
Cormack was their age.

It's much more dangerous and addictive, says the 41-year-old RCMP
corporal and head of Red Deer's drug enforcement street team.

Cormack, a father as well, has grave concerns about drug use by young
people in Red Deer, and that's why he can't support enough a treatment
centre for addicted youths.

Twenty years ago when kids experimented with drugs, they were mainly
dealing with alcohol, tobacco, pot and magic mushrooms, he says. Young
people used to have a choice about drug use, but that has changed, he
believes.

"Today's drugs are highly addictive - one or two uses can be
psychologically and physically addicting."

"At the end of the day, they don't have a choice."

He's talking in particular about the two big street drugs in Red Deer
- - crack cocaine, which is the most prevalent - and crystal meth, which
is second but catching up fast.

They are priced about the same.

Crystal meth gives a longer lasting and more intense high. "More bang
for the buck," as Cormack says.

"Kids aren't really doing anything more than they've ever been doing,"
in terms of experimenting, he says.

"But these drugs are so highly addictive."

The city's street team, which has made a name for itself over the past
year, deals largely with street level drug enforcement and it's side
effects, such as the property crimes committed to support drug habits.

Those property crimes are down.

Last year, RCMP busted a crystal meth and cocaine operation east of
Red Deer.

A semi-trailer truck was used to haul two loads of exhibits away.
Included were quads, hundreds of cellphones, laptop computers,
high-end mountain bikes and more.

"It was unbelievable," says Cormack, who has been with the RCMP now
for 15 years.

Red Deer street team members deal constantly with addicts and drug
houses.

Many of their drug busts have resulted in guilty pleas.

"There are dozens of locations (in Red Deer) where trafficking is
occurring," says Cormack.

But Red Deer is not a lot different than anywhere else, he
says.

"I think everybody is getting kicked in the pants."

In Red Deer, dealers prefer to sell to those who are between the ages
of 15 and 25, says Cormack.

"A lot of these kids are just normal kids."

But they try crack cocaine or crystal meth, get addicted, sell their
personal items for drugs, steal from their parents, get kicked out and
end up on the streets.

"We talk to hard-core drug addicts. Most of these people are just
normal people who made a bad decision. Most are quite ashamed."

As for the dealers, most here are in business to support their own
habits and make money at the same time, he says.

Something common in the larger cities and now making its way to Red
Deer is "dial-a-dopers," as Cormack calls them.

Crews come here, spread around a phone number, stash drugs in various
locations (so as not to get caught with a large amount), and meet with
callers to make small, quick transactions.

Generally, they are selling crack cocaine, cocaine and crystal meth.

"When a door gets kicked down, we never know what to expect. We're
seeing more guns and edge weapons like switchblades and swords. "And
these are people under the influence of drugs. It's scary. It's
unpredictable."

In order to support their drug habits, young girls are turning to a
form of prostitution, Cormack says, where they sleep with someone to
get drugs.

"A lot of the females are young mothers who have lost their children
(to social services).

"You don't know how many times a week I hear that."

Many of these young women regret their lifestyles and wish they had
their children back.

"Just because you're an addict doesn't make you a bad person. You've
just made a bad decision. These people are paying for it literally
with their lives."

Cormack believes tackling the drug problem involves finding a balance
of four components: law enforcement, a supportive judiciary (which is
the case locally), education and treatment centres.

"If you can reduce the problem, that's success," he says.

Since the street team has received publicity regarding several busts
in the city, tips to police have "gone through the roof."

But, Cormack cautions, police can't go busting into places where there
are only suspicions. They must have strong evidence that illegal
activities are going on.

The public has become more aware of what to look for and neighbours
are reporting suspicious activities, which is all part of the puzzle
to help law enforcement bust the dealers.

The street team also makes presentations such as to social agencies
and schools.

Businesses and landlords also need to become more aware of what
products are used to make crystal meth and be on the lookout for
suspicious activities.

This week's huge bust of a crystal meth lab in the rural area west of
Didsbury was the result of a report to police from a realtor who saw
suspicious activities.

Cormack supports Red Deer North MLA Mary Anne Jablonski wholeheartedly
as she tries to get a treatment centre for addicted youths established here.

He believes treatment should be long term because it can take months
to get clean.

"I think Red Deer has a lot to offer. This city is an awesome city. It
has everything we need."

But there's this other side, which is damaging or destroying lives,
including those of our young people.

Cormack says: "I think a lot of them, if they had an open door (to
treatment), they would go through it."