DRUG AWARENESS BROUGHT INTO FOCUS

On a daily basis phone calls come into my office from parents,
educators, social workers, probation officers, grandparents and others
wanting to know how they can help people they care about who have
found themselves facing issues around drug misuse and abuse.

I am RCMP Const. Beth Blackburn, the drug awareness coordinator for
Nanaimo. In the next few months I will be writing a weekly column to
bring some of these drug awareness issues to a broader audience.

This first week I thought I should tell you what exactly the RCMP Drug
Awareness Service actually does and its mandate.

Our mission: RCMP Drug Awareness Service is committed to making
communities safe and healthy by reducing substance abuse and its
related problems.

Our vision: To be leaders in striving for a country free of substance
abuse.

Our beliefs: Everyone has the right to live free from substance abuse
and its effects.

Children are vulnerable and are entitled to our protection.
Well-informed people strive for a society free of substance abuse.

Substance abuse negatively affects the safety and quality of life in
our communities. Substance abuse prevention is crime prevention.

A balanced approach to prevention includes education, enforcement and
treatment.

Substance abuse is a barrier to social and self development. Substance
abusers deserve effective treatment

We can make a difference through innovative partnerships

Our commitment (to our communities): Promoting a balanced approach to
prevention, enforcement and treatment. Providing factual information
on substance abuse issues. Supporting enforcement initiatives.
Encouraging, mobilizing and supporting community driven initiatives
that reflect our mission, vision and beliefs.

I will discuss the following topics in the coming weeks: alcohol
abuse, prescription drug abuse, crystal meth, cocaine, heroin,
marijuana, clandestine labs, marijuana grow operations, Drug Abuse
Resistance Education (DARE) program, Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related
Trauma in Youth (PARTY) program, drugs in the workplace, drugs in
sports, steroids, drug impaired driving, and fetal alcohol spectrum
disorder just to name a few.

My goal is to give valuable information that the community can use to
stay safe and healthy by reducing substance abuse. If you issues or
topics you would like covered in my column please contact me at 755-3226.

Next week: Alcohol use over the Christmas season.

RCMP Const. Beth Blackburn is the drug awareness coordinator for
Central Vancouver Island. Her column appears every Saturday.