Pubdate: Thu, 15 Apr 2004
Source: Medicine Hat News (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.medicinehatnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1833
Author: Marlene Hofmann

STREET-DRUG PROBLEM EXISTS

Re: Chief Boucher Says Police Eye On Drugs, Traffic, Medicine Hat Business
Review 2004

My son died a drug-related death in your city in February 2003. Four
months prior another boy died at the hands of drugs acquired in
Medicine Hat. How many more drug deaths have there been that I don't
know about because I don't live in your city?

According to Medicine Hat Police Service Chief Norm Boucher, over the
last several years drugs and traffic violations have been neglected to
some degree by the force . . ."

Would these boys be alive if the drug issue had been properly
addressed?

Chief Boucher was quoted as saying, "Most people don't know there is a
drug issue in the community."

There is obviously a lot the community doesn't know and I am sick over
the last several years drugs have been neglected to some degree by the
force.

The police service needs a wake-up call. The public needs to know how
drug addicted/mentally ill patients are turned back onto your streets
from the hospital. What do you think about that Medicine Hat?

The drug issue and lack of policing is affecting us all. Whether we
choose to see it or not, our hospital beds are being taken up by the
drug addicted. Who pays? We do in dollars and less access to hospital
beds. They may be on welfare or assistance for the disabled. Who pays?
We do.

Another article in the Business Review reads, "Drug crimes a concern
to Redcliff RCMP." Who pays? The answer is we all do, again, and again
and again. Street drugs are a terrible, contagious disease and left
uncontrolled are at epidemic proportions. Your community is paying.

Boucher has no idea how dead dead is until it is your child. I would
certainly prefer house arrest or maybe even jail compared to the price
I am paying.

Marlene Hofmann
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MAP posted-by: Josh