ON GUARD AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

Businesses owners downtown are taking preventive steps to keep drug
abusers out of their establishments.

Greg Dionne, general manager of Gateway Mall, says security guards
there have been relatively effective in deterring drug activity.

A security patrol staff of five officers often pass by mall washrooms,
which can be a drug injection hotspot.

"Ours (the washrooms) are very well lit, and we're in a very public
area," Dionne said.

Dionne said security cameras inside and outside the building,
especially those near washrooms, also deter unwanted behaviour.

"They don't want to be in the public eye," Dionne said.

One downtown business manager says the drug problem downtown is
constant, but he is taking a zero tolerance stance.

Doug Cheyne, manager and co-owner of the National Hotel, said if drug
traffickers or users are caught red-handed at the hotel, they are
banned for life from the establishment.

"You don't get back in the hotel," he said.

Cheyne said his staff watches closely for signs of drug use and quite
often catch people with needles.

Cheyne estimated about half a dozen needles turn up each
week.

But Cheyne says the hotel has a "very good security system," with
cameras covering a lot of ground. He's also been able to pinpoint
customers who could potentially cause trouble.

"We know who we're looking for," he said.

There has also been a needle disposal unit installed behind the hotel
so users can discard their needles safely.

Ed Zaparaniuk, owner of all three Tim Hortons stores in the city, says
there's evidence of drug abuse across the whole city.

"We find needles in every store," he said. "It's not only
downtown."

However, he feels businesses that are open during later hours, which
can be "hangouts" for drug uses, are the establishments that see the
worst of it.

Though Zaparaniuk doesn't think Prince Albert is overly bad for drug
use, he admits it's not going away any time soon.

"It's something I don't think we're really going to get rid of," he said.

Sgt. Rhonda Meakin with the Prince Albert police said reserving
washrooms for patrons of stores and restaurants is a good tip for
business owners who want to deter criminal activity in their shops.