'ALARMING RISE' IN DRUG USE BY TEENS
PROMPTS MEETING

Concern for the welfare of area youth has prompted a Bracebridge
Rotarian to organize a meeting where community members will discuss
ideas that could help inhibit teen drug abuse.

"There has been an alarming rise in the use of increasingly more
serious drugs by many young people in Bracebridge," Mary Robertson,
the Bracebridge Rotary Club's youth focus committee chair, wrote in a
letter to community representatives.

Robertson cited marijuana, cocaine and crack as examples of drugs she
hears are being used by young area teens.

She hopes a coordinated and comprehensive "infrastructure" can be
developed that offers a healthy and supportive environment for
Bracebridge youth.

She has invited representatives from the police, the media, the Town
of Bracebridge and Bracebridge's business sector to attend the meeting
where they will break into groups and speak about their ideas.

The meeting is being held at the Rotary Centre for Youth on Wednesday,
January 26.

"We can't change the world, but we can change Bracebridge," said
Robertson.

The results of the meeting will depend on those who attend, she
said.

"It takes a catalyst and that's how I see my role," she said. "To
bring people together that then can form plans that they couldn't do
on their own."

One example, which could benefit area teens, would be the creation of
a youth drop-in centre, she suggested.

Other ideas she has cited include increasing connections between youth
and positive role models and increasing education.

The meeting is supported by the Bracebridge OPP detachment.

"We support anything in the community that's going to make this a
safer place and a more positive environment for our youth to be
brought up in," said Bracebridge OPP high school liaison officer
Constable Ted Smith.

"We're aware that there is certainly cocaine and crack available to
teenagers," said Smith.

"We have received information about youths using the drug -- crack,
cocaine -- either one," he added. "The key message here is parents
should be aware those drugs are available."

It is hard to say whether the use of these drugs by area youth has
increased over the past year, Smith said.