POLICE STRESS ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE

Concern about teen abuse of alcohol, marijuana and medications is high on
the agenda as the Brockville Police Service marks Drug Awareness Week Nov.
17 to 23.

"People say, 'It's just my medicine,' like there's no big deal with these
drugs," said Chief Barry King.

King notes, however, there may be serious consequences for abusing alcohol
and mixing different drugs.

Binge drinking, for instance, may lead to alcohol poisoning and is
especially dangerous in combination with marijuana and prescription drugs,
he said.

"There can be more problems associated with these substances than the hard
drugs," King said.

Sgt. Doug Locke, community services officer, said the 2001 Ontario Student
Drug Use Survey indicates 40 per cent of Grade 11 students have reported
drinking alcohol to the point of becoming ill in the month before they were
interviewed.

Moreover, there is a marked increase in binge drinking - having five or
more beers or alcoholic drinks at one sitting - among all teens.

"The thing that scares me is the amount of binge drinking among teens. It's
gone up from 17 per cent to 28 per cent from 1993 to 1999. That's a huge
increase," he said.

Meanwhile, marijuana is identified as the number one concern among people
seeking treatment for drug problems.

"We're telling young people, 'Keep your dreams alive. Stay drug free. You
are 100 per cent of Canada's future,'" he said.

Locke visits city schools throughout the year spreading an anti-drug
message through the Very Effective People program.

A regional meeting of Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving next
Wednesday at TISS will be another chance to hammer the message home, he said.

"Our message to young people is to be drug free, no alcohol, no drugs," he
said.

Drug use often leads to criminal activity, he said.

"A lot of B&E's and thefts are the result of people supporting their drug
habits," he said.