Pubdate: Wed, 12 Oct 2005
Source: Queen Charlotte Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Queen Charlotte Observer.
Contact:  http://www.qciobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2681
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

DEAR DRUG DEALERS

Editor, Sir;

Since I heard that crystal meth and crack cocaine and ecstasy are being 
sold here on Haida Gwaii, I have felt so sad and have felt helpless about 
what to do. As a naanii and mother and auntie and sister and friend, all I 
can do is appeal to you through this letter to stop selling these awful drugs.

Please think about the people using and getting hooked on crack cocaine and 
crystal meth, and how it is damaging so many lives. Don't bring those 
lethal drugs to our communities. People that you sell this poison to are in 
all likelihood your own relative, or someone that you have known most of 
your life. How can you stand to see what is happening in our communities, 
knowing you play such a destructive role in this?

You might think your identity is not known, that you are anonymous in the 
community. You are not. In the cities, drug dealers can hide behind this 
anonymity but here on-island, if you chose to sell these lethal drugs to 
people in the community you have to live with the consequences of knowing 
what you are doing to your own relative or friend.

Maybe you say to yourself 'well if I don't do it someone else will, and 
will get the money' if you use this as your justification - I ask you to 
look into the eyes of your precious relatives and friends and ask yourself 
would you want to inflict that harm on them - just for money?

Have you ever seen a mother heartbreakingly cry for her daughter hooked on 
crystal meth? I have and all I can do is cry with her. How can you justify 
being involved with crack cocaine and especially crystal meth? Please don't 
bring those awful drugs to our islands. Please think twice about this. No 
money in the world is worth this kind of pain these drugs cause.

Can you really carry on as if you are not hurting people? Please, do not 
sell crack cocaine or crystal meth or ecstasy here on Haida Gwaii - all 
illicit drugs do harm to families. - These hurt and affect people in a very 
cruel way. Please think about who you are hurting when you hand that 
poisonous drug to anyone. Look at your relatives, and your friends - what 
right would anyone have to hurt them like that. Look at the people that 
knock on your door for drugs. - Realize that you do not have the right to 
harm people like that.

With hope in my heart that you will listen.

Sharon Matthews

Old Massett 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D