Pubdate: Wed, 10 May 2000 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2000 The Toronto Star Contact: One Yonge St., Toronto ON, M5E 1E6 Fax: (416) 869-4322 Website: http://www.thestar.com/ Forum: http://www.thestar.com/editorial/disc_board/ Author: Cal Millar, Staff Reporter POLICE CHIEFS ASK OTTAWA FOR NATIONAL DRUG CAMPAIGN Canada's police chiefs want Ottawa to develop a national campaign to warn young people about the dangers of drug use at raves. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police made the request in a letter to federal Health Minister Allan Rock. Brockville police Chief Barry King, chair of the association's drug abuse committee, said the chiefs don't want to ban raves, but want an education program to give young people and their parents the facts about the drug culture at the all-night dance parties. King suggests such a campaign would help families regain ground lost to criminals' systematic efforts to foster the drug culture nationwide. "The Drug Abuse Committee of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police urges the government of Canada to declare this emerging health crisis as an urgent, potentially debilitating attack on the fabric of Canadian life through our youth," the May 8 letter states. "We request that sufficient funding be committed immediately to provide information and education to Canadian youth, their parents and communities about the consequence of drug abuse and specifically ecstasy, ketamine, GHB and other chemical substances that are being glorified by the organized drug culture as safe entertainment enhancers," says the letter. The letter also suggests a national substance abuse prevention program through Canada's Drug Strategy Division, part of Rock's department. Toronto police Chief Julian Fantino wrote to Prime Minister Jean Chretien this month expressing concern about how raves are promoted at schools, with brochures depicting nudity and drugs. Fantino invited Chretien to attend a rave to see the drug problem first-hand - and Eric Conroy, an adviser on the drug committee, said Chretien and Rock should go. Conroy added organizers promote raves as safe, alcohol-free parties to parents and tell young people that drugs such as ecstasy are safe. "The kids believe this," he said. "They are not getting the true story." - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk