Pubdate: Tue, 21 Jun 2005
Source: Journal Argus (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Journal Argus
Contact:  http://www.stmarys.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2197

CHOOSING DRUGS

Here's an incomplete and entirely unscientific list of substances commonly 
considered in Canadian society to be both addictive (thereby causing some 
sort of withdrawal if usage is ceased), and to provide some sort of 
temporary but desirable psychological effect.

Coffee: really only a risk to drivers and pedestrians due to the very 
common practice of trying to consume one while driving. Health studies have 
shown both positive and negative health effects. Legal.

Alcohol: driving is a risk to all. Effects of moderate-to-high consumption 
vary, but often include abusive behaviour. Detrimental health effects of 
high or addictive-level consumption. Legal for adults.

Tobacco: driving not a problem. Detrimental health effects of long-term 
consumption. For non-users, long-term exposure to second-hand smoke is 
considered dangerous. Legal for adults.

Marijuana: opinions vary on effects on driving and health, but my advice is 
to keep away from somebody who's smoking and driving. Plus, how different 
can one second-hand smoke be from another second-hand smoke? Demand for 
what's now an illegal substance has contributed to crime. Muddled legal 
status could change without notice.

Heroin; cocaine: highly addictive nature combined with illegal status leads 
to crime, as well as the use of disease-spreading drug paraphernalia. 
Chemicals are bad for your health. Effects can include desire for 
self-destruction.

Crystal meth: chemicals are bad for your health. Effects can include desire 
for self-destruction. Attractive due to its low cost. Apparently highly 
addictive.

The last drug, according to a recent Toronto Star expose, has established 
an Ontario foothold in Perth County. One 18 year-old St. Marys woman is 
quoted in the story -- the only person to actually admit she's currently 
using the drug AND to give their own name.

Notwithstanding the questionable reliability of a statement from a teenager 
who would say such a thing (already not considered a top-notch citizen by 
most adults; suddenly the same reaction from her peers, both users and 
non-users of crystal meth), there's no denying the drug is prevalent among 
the youth in our community.

Is it any wonder?

It's cheap and it's available with little risk. The police are aware of its 
presence but don't attach top-level priority to it because they're just as 
busy or more tackling drunk drivers, domestic situations arising from 
alcohol or other drug use, and busting up marijuana grow ops usually run by 
adults.

And the example is there for our youth: if life's giving you troubles, 
there are ways to escape. Youth aren't allowed to buy away their troubles 
with alcohol, and they don't have enough money to search out cocaine, so 
they find their own recipe.

As adults, we must set a better example of how to wind down after a 
stressful week. S.S.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom