DRUG ABUSE, TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY, JUNE 26

Standing Strong Against Drugs -- Wetaskiwin

A First Nations phrase, "It takes a whole village to raise a child" is
an appropriate paradigm to believe in when working with drug
prevention and drug education.

Our children know about playing safely and bicycle safety. As well,
there are home alone and after school clubs and programs for latch key
children. What about drug education and drug safety?

The television bombards us with anti-drug messages, our own community
supports anti drug campaigns, but what really is getting done to
street proof our children, or further to enhance our children's
education about drug abuse and drug safety?

The United Nations supports this valuable day of awareness. Their
website www.unodc.org has loads of valuable information and
suggestions to assist community members to help the youth learn about
drug abuse, as well as great resources for adults about the
international plans for illicit trafficking.

The 2007 slogan of the UNODC anti-drugs campaign is "Do drugs control
your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs."

The slogan will be used for three years and focus on different aspects
of drug control: drug abuse in 2007, drug cultivation and production
in 2008, and illicit drug trafficking in 2009.

Nearly 200 million people are using drugs worldwide specifically
marijuana, opiates and crystal meth. Cannabis remains the highest used
drug globally, with an estimated 16 million users.

The local RCMP detachment report that although we provide awareness
and information about drugs, users in the Wetaskiwin area are mostly
likely to be using alcohol or pot as their choice drug.

With this campaign, UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
aims to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs
represent to society.

No individual, family or community is safe where illicit drugs take
control. Many communities are on board with preventative programs such
as our local campaign Report a Drug House.

Communities are in charge of what happens. We have the right to keep
our communities and our families safe.

Locally, the RCMP, Crime Prevention and the Standing Strong Against
Drugs - Wetaskiwin committee have contributed energy and time to
promote the June 26 awareness day. All Grade 7 students in our local
schools will receive an information bag promoting alcohol and drug
awareness and education. Publicly watch for crime prevention, RCMP and
Standing Strong Against Drugs personnel out in the community
advertising our Report a Drug House campaign along with summer driving
safety messages.