DRUG AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS PLANNED MAY 1

The local drug awareness committee is planning a series of
presentations for youth and the community, but Cpl. John James is not
convinced the town's drug problem is out of control.

The RCMP officer, who was challenged by Parrsboro deputy mayor Lloyd
Smith at a recent council meeting to do more to combat an apparent
substance abuse problem among local youth, said the upcoming
presentations were not a result of public pressure.

Smith's comments followed the suicide of a 26-year-old Parrsboro man
last month, which was rumoured to be drug-related.

"That sudden death got a lot of people talking," said James. "We had a
really good drug awareness meeting and a lot of discussion, but one of
the things brought up was that there seems to be a lot of talk after
the death, but the problem is no better or worse than it has been."

From a policing standpoint, James said a drug problem has usually
been associated with a crime problem in other places he has worked,
but that that is just not evident here.

"There's usually a lot more property crime when you have a drug
problem, and we haven't really seen that," he said. "We haven't seen
any break and enters, thefts of vehicles, or anything."

While much of the talk around town seems to be about cocaine use being
rampant among young people, James said the evidence does not back that
up either, citing very few overdose calls for local paramedics.

"A lot of it is a bit of an overreaction, but it's still important to
do something," he said. "We want to raise public awareness too."

On May 1 Peter Kierstead, the RCMP's drug awareness co-ordinator, will
visit Parrsboro Regional High School for a series of presentations
with the students. High school students from Advocate will also be
bused in for the occasion.

James Shedden of Addiction Services will also be brought in for the
same presentations, and James said he is also trying to line up
someone from Narcotics Anonymous to speak to the students about their
first-hand experiences.

Following the presentations at the school, a public forum will be held
at Fundy Geological Museum at 7 p.m. in which the public will be given
an opportunity to discuss the subject.

The presenters from the school sessions will also be on
hand.

The drug awareness committee will try to keep the presentations
continuous, probably once every couple of months, to try and keep the
message going, according to James, who said the committee has gone
through great lengths to spread the message about drug awareness in
recent years and does not deserve any criticism for not doing enough.

He said the drug awareness committee has brought in speakers such as
George Chuvalo to talk to the students, and has even sent some
students for treatment. Just because activities are not always in the
public eye does not mean they are not happening, he pointed out.

"We're not here to do p.r., we're here to help people," he said. "But
that does not mean we should take it on the chin for not doing enough.
A lot of it's going to boil down to parents and parenting.

We can't take on everything."