FORT ST. COCAINE

FORT ST. JOHN -- The drug and alcohol problem in Fort St. John is at a
critical point, according to addiction counsellor Corey de Laronde.

While he noted there was marijuana and alcohol abuse seven years ago when
he started work at North Peace Addiction Services, de Laronde has seen a
huge shift to the use of "hardcore" drugs like cocaine.

"It is a critical situation in Fort St. John," he said. "It is just
terrible - the amount of people dying has got to be going through the roof.

"Unfortunately we don't have the accurate numbers."