PARTNERS IN DRUG PREVENTION

It's been said that there is nothing sadder for a parent than burying
a child. The natural expectation is that children will outlive their
parents.

But surely a close second would be watching a child succumb to a drug
dependency. It's a nightmare far too many Chilliwack families are
familiar with.

A story on page 18 of today's Progress offers just one example. It's
the story of a father who witnessed his son's slide into progressively
harder drugs.

Drug use, of course, is nothing new. Although its popularity has ebbed
and flowed ever since its colourful emergence during the '60s, the
"recreational" use of drugs has never disappeared.

Indeed, the concern today is even greater than it was when the first
hippy lit up a joint at Haight-Ashbury.

Drugs today are more potent, more accessible, and potentially more
harmful.

The emergence of crack cocaine and now methamphetamine - or crystal
meth - has added a new dimension to an already risky drug world.
Police report a larger number of young people are using crystal meth
because it's cheaper and more accessible than other forms of drugs.

And the results are pretty scary. Not only is the drug extremely
addictive, experts warn it can cause permanent damage. They say even
short-term use can actually "rewire" the brain, leaving users in a
psychotic state.

Police see the impact of prolonged drug use in their jobs every day.
In fact, most of the crime they deal with is related to the drug
world. They've seen normal, attentive young people change. And that's
why so many are so passionate about prevention at an early age.

Of course we can't only count on police officers and school teachers
to explain the dangers of drug use to our children.

Parents must be partners. They must understand the dangers, recognize
the symptoms, and know what actions to take.

That begins with accepting the reality that drug use does exist in our
community, and that children even at elementary school age are exposed
to its dangers.