TASK FORCE FORMED TO DEAL WITH DRUG PROBLEMS IN DRUMHELLER

The problems of drugs and alcohol have left its marks on Drumheller. A
new task force has been set up to help deal with an existing problem.

The Drumheller Community Drug Task Force held its second meeting on
December 7, at the Drumheller Civic Centre. Drumheller R.C.M.P. and
AADAC have banded together to garner the support of local agencies,
politicians, professionals and concerned citizens to discourage the
use of drugs in the community.

Staff Sergeant Rene Wells says the community is seeing abuse of
alcohol, marijuana and even crack cocaine.

"With crack, you can talk to the folks at AADAC and they'll tell you
they're hearing about it and we're hearing about it from an
enforcement perspective. It's out there, and I think we would be naive
to think that it doesn't exist," said Wells.

Many community groups in Drumheller were represented at the meeting.
The task force invited speakers from similar organizations in Taber,
Brooks and Stettler to share their programs in a panel discussion
format. These groups outlined their successes and pitfalls in setting
up and operating such task forces. Wells said that hearing from the
groups was helpful.

"It drives home the point that we're not alone as a community. What we
are going through as a community is happening everywhere, and now is
the time to act on it, or allow it to fester," said Wells.

Gerry Mancini, area supervisor of AADAC in Drumheller, agrees that the
meeting was helpful.

"Communities are banding together to say we have to do something more
to address this," said Mancini.

In Drumheller, alcohol and cannabis continue to be the substance of
choice, according to Mancini. He is alarmed by suggestions that the
use of pot is harmless.

A recent study suggests that the use of pot is on the rise. Fourteen
per cent of Canadians reported using cannabis in the past year. It
also showed that 30 per cent of young people 15-17 years of age, and
nearly half (47 per cent) of the 17-19 year olds admit to have used
marijuana in the past year.

"AADAC has concerns about any posturing that tends to normalize
marijuana use any further because people are interpreting what is
happening with the law to say that marijuana must be a benign
substance that doesn't cause any harm," said Mancini. "Why would the
law be treating it as a minor offence?"

On November 1, the federal government reintroduced the federal
marijuana bill, which would see fines for a small amount of marijuana
rather than criminal prosecution, and a toughening up on penalties for
cultivation and trafficking.

"We at AADAC don't see it as a benign substance, we see it as
potentially harmful," said Mancini.

"We don't however see harsh criminal penalties as consistent with
marijuana, but we do see that it is one substance that is checked
off by our clients when they come in here."

While many clients admit to using marijuana, seldom do they recognize
its effects.

"They identify alcohol as a problem, crack as a problem, or a
prescription drug as a problem, but not the marijuana," he said. "
People will give up cigarettes, they will work on smoking cessation,
but they will not give up marijuana. There is an embracing of this
very powerful drug."

He said that popular culture has embraced a positive image of pot
use.

"What do we associate with pot smokers? People laughing. Whereas the
drinker, we often picture violence or nasty stuff, and the crack
user--fear," he said.

Mancini says the role of marijuana is often involved in the use of
other drugs. While alcohol and pot continues to be high on the list of
substances used, crack cocaine has taken a hold in the community of
Drumheller.

"Crack cocaine, we see it having a dramatic impact over very short
periods of time," he said. "We have a very serious problem with crack
cocaine in Drumheller."

In a prearranged interview with The Drumheller Mail, a former user in
Drumheller (who wished not to be identified) felt that it is easier
for a person to obtain crack in Drumheller than it is to obtain pot.
In this person's estimation there is more crack use in Drumheller than
other towns of its size.

Mancini says the powerful addictive qualities of crack is what makes
it such a harmful substance.

"People want to recapture that high over and over again, and it costs
money, so what do you end up having? These people are going to family
members, friends, stealing from employers and selling their stuff.
They're desperate for money," he said.

Often the more illicit drugs are not the only problem, in fact many
legal substances that are for sale on shelves in Drumheller stores
have the potential to be vary harmful. "Energy" drinks with high
contents of caffeine can also be of great detriment especially when
mixed with alcohol.

Staff Sergeant Wells has drafted a letter and a petition to present to
businesses that sell the drinks.

"It is one small step we can take to curb the problem of this," he
said.

While there have been many reports in the media about the spread of
crystal meth in rural Alberta communities, so far it has not caused as
big of an impact in Drumheller as other communities. Wells said it is
important to define what the problem is before we can deal with it.

"The fact is that we all have our perceptions and sometimes
perceptions override reality," he said. "How can we plan a course to
chart if we don't know where we are at?"

Wells said that so far there has been good support for the task force,
but it is important to sustain the interest.

"The challenge is how do we keep the interest going we have to guard
against it being the flavour of the month."

Mancini said that the community approach is key, and prevention is the
most effective way to make an impact.

"We can pass out all the pamphlets and propaganda you want, but the
bottom line is kids need to feel confident and capable of managing
their lives," said Mancini. "People need to know that prevention is
everybody's business."