RCMP WANT CRACK SUPPLIERS RATHER THAN SMALL FRY

Port Hardy RCMP are trying to nab crack cocaine suppliers rather than the
"small-time users," says Staff Sgt. Tim Bain.

Estimating that crack cocaine appeared in town about a year ago, the head
of the Port Hardy detachment says it joined regular cocaine, marijuana and
"probably ecstasy from time to time" as the local drugs of choice.

"We know it's (crack) on the reserves, we know it's in town, we know youth
are using it," adds Rosemary Fromson, an elected councillor for the
District of Port Hardy and a mental health and addictions counsellor for
the Quatsino Band.

"I think crack cocaine is second to marijuana" in local usage, states Fromson.

Knowing crack is being sold here and stopping its distribution are not the
same thing, Bain states.

"It's easier to know that it's here," he says. "It's harder to know where
it's coming from."

Port Hardy RCMP cooperate with other detachments to learn where the drug is
coming from and how it gets here, he explains. They don't focus on catching
small fry with a rock of crack cocaine in their pockets, he says.

"What we want to do is find somebody with a bag of it."

Bain notes that his detachment doesn't have the resources to devote a lot
of time to crack down on drugs. The nearest RCMP drug section is in
Nanaimo, he adds.

"I think a fair number of people know who the drug pushers are on the North
Island," adds Fromson. "People know who goes down island to get drugs."

She says it's hard to find witnesses to testify in court because they fear
retaliation.

"People say, 'I'm not going to tell on anybody' because of fear of enforcers."

Fromson is concerned about "a slap on the wrist" in court when the police
and Crown counsel manage to get a conviction. She worries about crack's
destructive effect on North Island users.

Crack, she says, "is an instant hit to the brain - there go your cells."

One key to addiction treatment, she explains, is finding a safe
environment, "having them remove themselves from situations in which they
began using drugs."

Cocaine, a strong central nervous system stimulant, is typically snorted,
injected or smoked. Physical effects include constricted blood vessels,
dilated pupils, and increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Some users report restlessness, irritability, and anxiety.

The duration of cocaine's immediate euphoric effects, which include
hyper-stimulation, reduced fatigue, and mental clarity, depends on how it's
used. The faster the absorption, the more intense the high. The faster the
absorption, the shorter the duration of action. The high from snorting
might last 15 to 30 minutes, while that from smoking might last five to 10
minutes.

Crack is the street name for cocaine that has been processed to a free base
for smoking. Crack is processed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking
soda) and water, then heated. Crack refers to the crackling sound heard
when the mixture is heated for smoking.

Source: U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse