Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2001
Source: Powell River Peak (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Peak Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/734
Author: LEAD Committee Susan Hill, Lana Blair, Scott MacLeod, Cindy 
Smith,Terry Ewan, Marianne Smisko, Cindy Edwards

GOING OVERBOARD

Wow, Mr. Larsen, talk about overreacting to a different opinion ["Begs to 
differ," Letters, April 18].

Toxic herbicide raids? Military machines? Nowhere in our letter did we 
state we were for or against the so-called "war  on drugs." Nor did we 
comment on medicinal marijuana.  We assure you that we are well aware of 
the various drug  prevention and treatment strategies being used by Canada 
and the United States, as well as other parts of the world.

LEAD (Let's Education About Drugs) members are, contrary to your opinion, 
informed about the negative health effects caused by marijuana. On our 
committee we have drug and alcohol prevention specialists, treatment 
specialists, counsellors, parents, and a police officer. Many on the 
committee  have seen first-hand how marijuana has negatively affected their 
loved ones  and/or the people they work with.

The LEAD committee receives tremendous support by many in the community, 
both in the way of financial and volunteer help. Drug use is a serious 
health concern to the youth of our community, as indicated in the most 
recent McCreary Adolescent Health Survey and the Youth Health Forum held 
here in Powell River.

It also ranked among the top three health issues in a health survey done by 
the Coast Garibaldi Health Region with the public in the Sea to Sky, 
Sunshine Coast, and Powell River areas. With the support we receive and the 
obvious concern raised by the public, we are inspired to continue 
delivering health information with regard to the use of marijuana and other 
drugs in our community.

LEAD Committee Susan Hill, Lana Blair, Scott MacLeod, Cindy Smith, Terry 
Ewan, Marianne Smisko, Cindy Edwards
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom