C-K UNABLE TO AVOID DRUG PROBLEMS, SAYS DEA REP

A representative of the Drug Education Alliance (DEA) says it's naive to
believe Chatham-Kent's relatively small population is enough to isolate the
community and its residents from the impact of illegal narcotics.

Doug Robinson says the fact police last year seized over $7 million in
illegal drugs should serve was a warning that drugs are an ever-present
threat, especially to children.

And so the DEA's mandate is as important today as it was 11 years ago when
the Alliance was first organized, Robinson says.

The DEA is a non-profit organization that seeks to educate children about
the dangers of drug use. The Alliance brings its message to school
classrooms, children's organizations, and to any children's venue where it
is invited.

"We just can't tell kids not to take drugs," Robinson explained to the
Rotary Club of Chatham on Sept. 24. "But we tell them why they shouldn't
get involved with drugs.

"We want to give them enough information so when they have to make a
decision about drug use, they will make a choice based on their own will,"
he continued.

"An imposed choice rarely lasts, but if it's their own decision not to use
drugs, then they're going to stick with that decision."

Robinson said the DEA has an important place in the fight against drugs,
because too often social and educational institutions don't have the time
or resources to present such an argument on behalf of children.

"More and more, people are realizing that this is necessary and, quite
frankly, the official systems are too burdened to add one more doctrine to
their curriculum," he added.

Robinson suggested that the biggest problem Chatham-Kent has with drugs is
the assumption there is no drug problem. He pointed to the drug seizures
made by police in 2002, and further noted that Chief Carl Herder earlier
this year publicly commented that drug use is at an "unacceptable level" in
Chatham-Kent.

"It's easy to suppose that Chatham-Kent is not a big city and so we don't
have a drug problem, but that's just not the case," Robinson said.