PROBLEM CONTINUES

Perhaps it's an ongoing struggle, but Whitecourt RCMP remain focused
in educating the public and encouraging parents to talk to their
children about methamphetamines, marijuana, cocaine and crack cocaine.

"These drugs are the drugs of choice in town," says Cpl. Chris
Short.

Over the summer, the RCMP were called into a situation where a bad
batch of meth was circulated around town and a local woman, in her
late teens, was hospitalized.

"Meth is basically made up of a collection of readily accessible
chemicals and ingestion has very significant adverse affects," Short
states.

"We want to make sure all people are aware that meth and other drugs
are available in town, what's in them, side affects and encourage
their loved ones to stay away from drugs.

"Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and cheap drug."

Short says he was recently educated on the fact that meth in this area
costs about $50 for half of a gram, which can last a casual user for
some time.

Recently, the Whitecourt detachment has dealt with many property
crimes, such as break and enters which all relates back to the drug
problem.

Short says garages, vehicles and unlocked property have been the
targets lately as a wide variety of items are being taken.

He says items that are going missing are lap top computers, a flare
gun (which resembles a pistol) and tools are all valuable for trade or
money for drugs.

"People steal a majority of these items to sell to the middle man for
cash or in exchange for drugs."

When it comes to tools going missing, Short says it's a lot of
specialized equipment related to oilfield work, which is worth a lot
of money.

Short says the local detachment recently arrested a 16-year-old with
drug possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamines.

"It's important to talk to kids about drugs," he stresses, as the RCMP
doesn't know where to start in trying to solve the problem.

Programs and nformation are available in the community on this issue
and officers are going into the schools to talk to students on the
dangers of drugs in the community.

The RCMP is trying to educate the community as drug use appears to be
on the rise.

Short suggests people can look up more information on the website;
www.kci.org/meth_info/links.htm as, he says, it offers valuable
information, most asked questions and answers along with ways to
identify if someone is using drugs.