DRUGS -- A LINK TO CRIME

An elderly couple's home is broken into. A purse, jewellery and their
television is stolen. A convenience store is held up. Money is taken. A guy
in his mid-20s is badly beaten.

All are linked to drugs. "Ninety per cent of crime police deal with is
drug-related in one way or another," said RCMP Corporal Dennis Blanch. A
majority of property crime is committed by young people to purchase drugs.

"It has an impact on the community in a lot of different ways," said
Blanch. "From education to neighbourhoods to our young people--if you are
living in the community it will have an effect on you."

More drugs than marijuana can be found in Powell River. Heroin, cocaine,
crack cocaine, mushrooms, ecstasy--you just have to know where to look, say
local youths.

Crystal meth is making its way into Powell River, said RCMP Constable Bob
Purslow. Backyard chemists are putting it together and cube vans are often
set up as mobile labs. The drug is replacing cocaine in the Lower Mainland.

"It's cheaper and the effects can last for days rather than hours."

Locally, people are using crystal meth to cut with cocaine.

Not long ago Purslow seized a large quantity of ecstasy--220 pills.
Described as the love drug because people lose their inhibitions, it was
destined for youth in the community.

Blanch said one of the dangers of drugs like ecstasy is that they are made
up in someone's home or mobile lab and varying amounts of ingredients are
used. "There's no quality control. It's like playing with a loaded gun, you
do not know what is going to happen."

Drug traffickers are always looking at different ways to package and market
their projects.

"There used to be a stigma around heroin use because people thought of the
junkie standing on the street shooting up," said Purslow. But today's
heroin is so strong that people can rub it on their gums, and they're also
smoking it. "And that makes it more acceptable."

Although marijuana hasn't been decriminalized yet, the message is out there
that there is a tolerance for small amounts of marijuana, said Blanch.
Police have to provide "a history and rationale" as to why they think a
possession charge should go to court.

It's frustrating, Blanch said. Police are called by residents whose
neighbourhoods are affected by dealers and the "negative element that goes
with it, from traffic flow to syringes to the threat to young kids."

Police get the users who are buying, and when they do get those people in
possession of an illicit drug, it's for a small amount and it's only for
possession.

"That is where I feel the community needs to put more pressure on all
levels of government," said Blanch, "the impact these activities are having
on their lifestyle."

Prescription drugs are also a problem. Not long ago, the health centre on
Texada Island was broken into and morphine and dilaudid were stolen.
Ritalin--another prescription drug-is often used due to its accessibility.

There are currently 40 patients receiving treatment at Powell River's
methadone clinic and according to Dr. Anna-Marie Maguire, for every one
patient in treatment another four are on the streets using heroin.

Last year, Powell River's needle exchange program took in 40,000 needles
said public health nurse Eleanor Sinclair. Those who do use the needle
exchange are generally over 25 years of age, she said, noting those figures
don't include younger people.

There were 11 drug-induced deaths in Powell River between 1995 and 1999 and
Powell River's coroner and mayor, Stewart Alsgard, has witnessed the
effects drugs have on this community's youth. He is quick to point out that
the issue of drugs is a community one and if changes are to be made the
community must get involved.

Superintendent of schools Brian Bennett agrees. "It isn't just in schools.
We deal with kids part of the day, but there's a huge other part of the day."

At a recent forum on youth and drugs, it was noted that parents don't feel
equipped to deal with the issue of drugs and that they think the school
should look after it.

With statistics claiming that 10 per cent of the general population will
develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol and another 10 per cent will abuse
during their lifetime, the issue is one to be concerned about, said Susan
Hill, a counsellor with New Life Drug and Alcohol counselling service. She
agrees the issue has to be seen as a community issue if there is to be change.

"It's difficult to expect change when people don't see it as an issue."