CRACK, COCAINE USE ON THE RISE

The smuggler's drug of choice, cocaine, is rising in popularity, especially
among adolescents. A 25-year study conducted by the Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health, shows the percentage Ontario kids in grades 7, 9 and 11 using
cocaine is at its highest since 1979.

While the rate of coke use in kids is the lowest in Eastern Ontario, the
number of adolescents in the area trying it is rising.

Crack cocaine use is greater than it's ever been in Ontario, with Eastern
Ontario kids steadily increasing their use of the drug since 1977.

Ottawa police Staff Sgt. Marc Pinault said the combination of the drug's
addictive qualities and dealer greed have brought crack to the forefront in
Ottawa.

Because crack is more addictive, Pinault said many powder cocaine users are
turned on to crack, which will increase the demand.

"It's just doing business," he said, adding that dealers would sell bananas
if they proved to be as profitable.

Unlike some other drugs, crack and cocaine haven't experienced a price
change in a while, but purity has increased, making it a better buy.