Pubdate: Fri, 06 Dec 2002
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyitoronto.com/torsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Jillian Follert

DRUG WAR GETS NEW CHAMPION

Chuvalo hopes to KO addiction

When  former  Canadian  heavyweight  boxing  champion  George Chuvalo
stepped  into  the  ring  yesterday  he wasn't there to take on George
Foreman  or Muhammad Ali or any of the other legends he's faced in the past.

He was there to fight drugs.

Chuvalo, who was Canadian champ from 1958-1979, is partnering with the
Ontario Crime Control Commission as part of a new initiative to battle drug
addiction  and  drug-related crime. The OCCC estimates there are 330,000
drug users in Ontario.

Having  lost  three  sons  to heroin abuse -- Steven and George Lee to
overdoses and Jesse to suicide -- Chuvalo knows all too well how drugs can
destroy families and communities.

LONG JAIL TERMS

"What  happened  to  my  family  shouldn't happen to anyone's family,"
Chuvalo  said,  fighting  off tears as he described how his sons faced long
jail terms during the course of their addictions.

Yesterday the renowned boxer appeared at Florida Jack's Boxing Club on Yonge
St.,  to kick off the campaign that will see him speak to young people at
eight forums across the province.

"People  want  us  to  prevent  crime,"  said MPP Bob Wood, the OCCC's
co-chairman. "With George's help, we hope to keep young Ontarians from being
pulled  into  the downward spiral of drug addiction, crime, and far too
often, an early grave."

NEW STRATEGY

Bruce  Miller,  administrator  for  the Police Association of Ontario, said
the  need  for a new strategy is especially apparent in light of the
federal    government's    recent    discussions    about   the
decriminalization of so-called soft drugs like marijuana.

"They are sending the wrong message," Miller said. "All these years we have
been  telling kids to say no to drugs. Now they're talking about making it
legal. What is that saying?"

Chuvalo  said  the  government needs to consider how young people will react
to decriminalization or legalization.

"To them it says it's okay to use drugs," he said.

"That's how a young person would interpret it."
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MAP posted-by: Josh