HALTON NEEDS MORE ACTIVITIES FOR TEENS

RE: 'Police adopt get-tough policy on bush parties' (May 24). I feel that
the perspective of Halton's youths must be presented.

The police program under question intends to get tough on bush parties in
Halton by adopting a "zero tolerance approach toward underage drinking."
However well intended this approach is, it seems to miss its mark.

Fining Halton's teens will not stop the problem of underage drinking and
drug use, nor will it expose the root of the problem. These activities seem
to be a manifestation of deeper social problems among youths.

Recent reports indicate high drug rates among teens in Halton, including
the rise of chemical drug use.

Other sources show that vandalism and graffiti are also on the rise.

A lack of youth-oriented activities may be a large factor in these cases.
Halton does not have many facilities designed to occupy youths, so teens
have to entertain themselves.

Coffee shops and malls often discriminate against youths, giving them time
limits, or requesting to see that they have money before purchase. Malls
are just too expensive, as are the movie theatres.

Concerts are often a break from the mundane, but are held infrequently,
partly because of the high price.

It seems that Halton's tax dollars would be better spent creating a youth
drop-in centre encouraging teen involvement, such as Kitchener and Sudbury
have had for some time.

While it is true that many youths are hesitant to participate in
adult-organized activities, there is a direct correlation between these
centres and decreased drug use, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted
diseases among teens. A centre would give Halton's teens an alternative to
bush parties and drugs.

Using Band-Aid solutions such as increasing fines, or paying police
officers to hang out at possible party sites, will not address the issue of
underage drinking, but will just drive bush parties farther into the bush.

Mike Constable

Burlington