WAR ON DRUGS GOING FULL BLAST IN DURHAM

Durham police have spent much time, energy and money battling drugs over
the past few years. The problem seems to be getting much worse, not better.

Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) officers found an increase in a
different type of impairment these past seven weeks: those who toke and drive.

Acting-Sergeant Mark Stone of the Durham Regional Police is clearly
troubled by the 30 motorists who were stopped and charged with marijuana
possession. That's in addition to the 56 who were charged with driving over
the legal limit of 80 mgs. per 100 mls. of blood out of 27,066 vehicles
inspected. By comparison, in 2001, police stopped 30,497 vehicles and
charged 70 people with being over the limit.

"Personally, I was shocked by the number of narcotic charges," said Sgt.
Stone. Drug charges this year tripled over last year despite fewer vehicles
being stopped. In several cases officers were greeted with clouds of smoke
from freshly burnt joints as they made their stop.

While there are no specific measurable levels for marijuana impairment
behind the wheel, as there are with alcohol, officers can charge obviously
stoned drivers.

Toking and driving is only a part of the ongoing, expensive drug battle.

This past year has seen an all-out war on pot-grow homes with dozens of
busts made throughout the region on a continuous basis. More than 100 pot
homes were shut down in Durham during 2002 and there promises to be many
more this coming year.

Not only has millions in pot been confiscated in these raids but hundreds
of thousands of dollars in illegal hydro theft has been restored. Grow
homes typically tap into power lines illicitly and steal tremendous amounts
of power until they are caught.

Police are also keeping a close watch on the movements and activities of
local bikers, who've moved into the area in the past few years. The Hells
Angels have established a clubhouse in Oshawa and are also working,
according to police, with local puppet clubs. An alleged outlaw biker was
busted recently for drug activity here.

All this effort by police merely points up the increasing problems caused
by drugs in our region. Whether it be toking and driving, grow homes or
drug dealing and the associated crimes that go with it, our police face
huge challenges as we head into another year. Their challenges are also our
challenges. Whether we're parents or children, we owe it to ourselves to
work with law enforcement to stamp out illegal drug use.