Pubdate: Wed, 17 Dec 2003
Source: Agassiz Harrison Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Agassiz Observer
Contact:  http://www.agassizharrisonobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1344
Author: Vicky Sparks

DRUG FREE ZONE NOT CONSTRUCTIVE ENOUGH

Editor,

I am very interested in the recent Online Polling that resulted in 61% of 
respondants in favour of a 2 block radius around the High School being 
deemed a Drug Free Zone. I wonder how we can logically relocate all of the 
businesses that distribute drugs within that proposed zone? Geographically 
speaking, there are at least 4 separate distributors of alcohol and no less 
than 3 distributors of tobacco within that 2 block radius. Therefore, we 
would be required to relocate those businesses or deny them the ability to 
distribute those products that are commonly known to be drugs (let's not 
start on coffee).

Granted, alcohol and tobacco are legal substances, they can be purchased by 
anyone above the age of majority and consumed legally by any member of the 
public over that age. But we aren't talking about legal drugs anyway, drugs 
that are for "adults", we are really just beating around the "youth and 
drugs" bush. And isn't it just like adults to propose a way to dictate 
further to youth while still protecting our own vices? Do we honestly 
believe that the youth in question won't also see through this hypocritical 
notion?

Now, I am not advocating drug use by anyone, but I would genuinely like to 
see something more constructive than a Drug Free Zone offered as a way to 
help with the problem. Why aren't there any suggestions about entertainment 
facilities for the community and, in large part, for the youth? If anyone 
hasn't yet noticed, there isn't a lot to do around here as far as 
entertainment goes. We are very lucky, as a community, to have the DSide 
youth centre because, aside from the skate park, that is pretty much all 
the kids have. They are targeted as undesirables at most businesses and are 
often left with the streets as their only venue for meeting and hanging 
out. A movie theatre, a pool hall, a pc gaming room, any of these ideas 
would, in my opinion, be much wiser solutions to the drug problem than a 
Drug Free Zone around the High School. The (quite frankly, uninforcable) 
Drug Free Zone would be met with as much respect as is deserved given the 
hypocracy of the idea, and that would be none.

Vicky Sparks

Harrison Mills
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