PARENTS GET FIRST-HAND LESSON ON TEENS/DRUGS

Parents who came to listen to the city's latest health campaign on
marijuana use among teenagers got a first-hand lesson on some of the
problems associated with drugs in the community.

Betty-Ann Elridge was one of a handful of people who attended last
Wednesday night's meeting. She left the three-hour information session at
the Ancaster Community Centre to find the back window of her car smashed out.

"This is the second time in two weeks I've had my car broken into at the
arena," said Ms. Elridge.

This time the culprit got away with a coffee maker she planned to donate to
charity, several CDs and a car stereo. Ms. Elridge, who later reported the
incident to police, said nine other people came out to find their cars damaged.

One Report

Const. Phil Romaker, a community police officer for the area, said he could
only confirm the one report.

"A lot of time people figure the heck with it and don't bother reporting
the crime. Especially if they have previous claims and don't want their
insurance rates to go up," he said.

Const. Romaker said several hours later, also on Nov. 17, a white GMC Yukon
SUV was also stolen from the parking lot.

Aside from being angry, Ms. Elridge said finding her back window smashed
made her reflect on several of the presenters at the workshop she left only
moments before.

"It made me think about the statistic Constable Frank Miscione gave during
the workshop that 99 per cent of robberies are related to crack," she said.

Const. Miscione, a school resource officer with the Hamilton Police, was
one of several presenters who had a sobering message about the realities
surrounding marijuana use among youth.

Between Sept. 3 and Oct. 16, the Hamilton Police dealt with 127 youth
during a drug sweep in Hamilton high schools. Of these students, only one
was charged for the possession of crack cocaine. While police found the
other 126 youth in possession of marijuana. Of these police gave 88
students a caution, 32 were sent into a drug diversion program and seven
other were criminally charged.

On a broad spectrum, Const. Miscione said about 25 per cent of youth are at
risk of breaking the law, while police deal with about 5 per cent of young
people. Of these youth, only only 1 per cent become chronic offenders.

"When we do drug sweeps we want to target at-risk youth, intervene early,
and get these kids back on the right track," he said.

Boredom Creates Curiosity

Because boredom creates curiosity, Const. Miscione said the best way to
steer youth away from drugs is to keep them busy.

"Kids who hang around loitering with nothing do but drink and smoke are at
more risk," he said.

With a current street value of $5 for half a gram (or one joint), marijuana
is the current drug of choice for teens.

But Const. Miscione said from the young people he talks to crack use among
teens is on the rise.

Showing graphic before and after images of a crack addict, Const. Miscione
had a warning for parents.

"Not all kids who use marijuana will use harder drugs, but in my experience
I've never seen a crack addict that didn't start with the occasional use of
marijuana."

During the course of the evening, a host of other presenters from public
health and local treatment programs joined Const. Miscione to help educate
parents.