EDUCATION, TREATMENT KEYS TO DEALING WITH DRUG PROBLEMS: CHIEF

Stringent enforcement has given Thunder Bay the distinction of leading the
way in laying drug charges. But that underscores the need to do more to
deal with the drug issue, the city's police chief says.

"You need to take (the stats) seriously, but enforcement is not going to
solve the problem," Chief Bob Herman said in an interview yesterday. "I
think the government has a responsibility to put more money into education
and treatment programs. You need to help break the cycle for people. If
they're in an endless cycle of drug addiction and there's nothing available
to get off of it, it just perpetuates itself."

A 24-page report from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, released
Monday by Statistics Canada, shows Thunder Bay has the highest number of
drug-related offences in Canada. With a rate of 571 per 100,000, the city
outstrips Vancouver and Victoria, which had rates of 468 and 459,
respectively, in 2002.

Herman said the figures refer to enforcement and the fact more officers
were assigned to the tri-force drug unit in 1998. From 1991-97, the rates
hovered between 100 and 200 cases per 100,000.

One criminal lawyer, who spent 25 years as a prosecutor, agreed, saying the
stats reflect an attitude on the part of police to get all drugs off the
street.

"I think they're very zealous (in making arrests), but I don't think
they're more zealous than (police) elsewhere," Leon Nicol said.

British Columbia, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick top the list.

A large portion of arrests relate to so-called "simple" possession of
marijuana. In those cases, Herman said, the mostly young people, if they're
convicted, receive punishment that either costs them a little money or
leads to no criminal record.

"Is it money well-spent putting these people through our court system when
you know they're going to get a small fine, probation or conditional
discharge? Or should that money be spent on education and treatment?"
Herman asked.

Another criminal lawyer said society and government need to "think twice"
about criminalizing people who suffer a drug addiction.

"I certainly think decriminalizing (for) small amounts of marijuana would
deal with the issue of not giving people criminal records," Chris Watkins said.

Herman said he's in favour of decriminalization for possession of small
amounts of marijuana if it frees up police and court resources, and if
programs are in place to address the problem.

"Education, we know, has worked. Smoking is a prime example of an education
program that works to change behaviour in society," he said. "It may take
10 or 15 years to get there, but it's got to be better than what we're
doing now.

"I think all we're doing is keeping a lid on it. We're not succeeding at
all through enforcement."