FORMER POLICE OFFICER CONTINUES TO FIGHT DRUGS

Robb McGirr has retired his badge, but not his fight against teen drug
abuse.

In his almost 30-year police career, Robb McGirr witnessed first-hand
the tragic consequences of drug addiction among teens.

"My interest in drug investigation began in 1979, when I started
working as a drug investigator and then as a undercover drug operator
both in New Westminster and downtown Vancouver," McGirr says.

He has since served as a resource instructor for drug investigations
and drug trends training programs at the Justice Institute of B.C.

In 1982, the B.C. Supreme Court qualified him as an expert in the
areas of drug trafficking, teen drug trends and related at-risk youth
issues, and he has provided expert opinion in more than 300 criminal
and civil cases.

McGirr continued his work on teen drug abuse when he became a Port
Moody Police officer in 1985.

"We used to hide behind the notion that kids that get involved with
drugs were symptomatic of other issues, like broken homes or they were
dysfunctional kids. And while that certainly can be true, we know far
better that the issue of becoming dependent on drugs can strike
anywhere," McGirr says. "It can strike very functional homes, very
successful young kids, and we really learned that in the late 1990s
with the issue of heroin use."

Drawing on his experiences and expertise, he developed and initiated a
community response strategy in 1998 and 1999 to cope with the dramatic
increase in teen heroin use, which earned him a B.C. Lieutenant Governor's
award for meritorious service. Part of that strategy included an updated
information guide, Drug Trends: Teen Drug Abuse. The guide was distributed
by request to middle and secondary schools in the Tri-Cities and adopted by
community groups, cities and police organizations across B.C. and Alberta.

"When you're working out in the bedroom communities, you very quickly
realize that while enforcement is a really important component of drug
reduction, prevention has and always will be the primary tool to
address this issue," McGirr says. "And the only way that you can
provide a good prevention program is by having lots of information
available."

Prevention is key, McGirr says, because success rates for teens
already addicted are dismal. In one program, about 50 teens addicted
to heroin were tracked over a four-year period - only four managed to
remain drug free.

"Probably over 40 went through a variety of programs, some two or
three times ... it's a motivator to get into prevention mode," McGirr
says. "That's a constant reminder to me - get them before they start,
get that information out there. They will make good decisions if you
give them accurate information."

Recently retired, McGirr has spent the last six months rewriting and
expanding a third edition of the guide into a 62-page book, Teen Drug
Trends, that addresses the growing popularity of methamphetamine among
teens - a trend predicted by McGirr in 1999.

The expanded guide includes information about how parents can evaluate
drug use in their teens, plan an intervention strategy and overcome
communication difficulties with their teens.

McGirr is looking for funding to publish the third edition of the drug
guide that he hopes to make available for free. Ideally, the guide
will be distributed to schools, parent advisory councils, at-risk
youth organizations and professionals who work with youth and be
available at public libraries and community crime-prevention centres.

He's hoping to raise about $9,000 to cover the estimated cost of
printing about 3,000 copies, and is looking for community sponsors.

- - McGirr, who is also a member of the B.C. Association of Social
Workers and Family Mediation Canada, will be teaching a series of
workshops based on Teen Drug Trends through the school district's
continuing education department. The workshops, to be held at
Centennial Secondary, begin Tuesday, Sept. 28. For more information or
to register, call 604-936-4261.