Pubdate: Tue, 02 Jan 2007
Source: Northern Life (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 Northern Life
Contact:  http://www.northernlife.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2396
Author: Keith Lacey

CRACK USE INCREASES IN CITY

This past year will be remembered, not so fondly, as one where 
Greater Sudbury lost its innocence when it came to one of the most 
destructive illicit drugs.

Greater Sudbury Police have admitted crack cocaine has become a very 
serious problem across this city and many other parts of Northern Ontario.

Peter Orsino, head of the joint forces drug unit for Greater Sudbury 
Police, said within the past two years, crack cocaine has gone from a 
fringe problem involving a couple dozen addicts to one reaching 
epidemic proportions.

Because it's relatively cheap - you can buy a small piece of crack 
that will get you high for $10 - more and more people are trying it. 
Drug gangs from Toronto have set up shop in Greater Sudbury because 
there are huge profits to be made, said Orsino.

The problem is the effects of crack last only 10 to 20 minutes and 
addicts want more and more. The craving never goes away. It's not 
unusual for an addict to spend anywhere from $500 to $2,000 a day, said Orsino.

One crack cocaine addict, who agreed to speak to Northern Life, said 
the powerful drug is readily available and destroying hundreds, if 
not thousands, of lives in this community.

"You might as well put a gun in your mouth," he said. "It's that 
bad...this stuff is so addictive and causes so much grief and 
destruction, I can't put it into words."

Crack addicts lose all compassion and concern for themselves and 
others and their only goal is to get enough money - legally or 
illegally - to feed their addiction. The need for more drugs is so 
strong, most addicts can't work and resort to crime to get the money 
to buy more, he said.

"You totally forget how to care about people...you forget how to 
love," he said. "Your only concern is getting enough money to get 
high again and if that means lying or stealing or prostituting 
yourself, then that's what an addict will do."

In October, local police services claimed a small victory in the 
fight against the scourge of crack cocaine in Greater Sudbury by 
charging 37 people with trafficking.

The charges stem from an eight-month undercover investigation 
conducted by the Ontario Provincial Police Drug Enforcement Section 
and Greater Sudbury Police. The investigation was code-named Project Rocked.

"Am I convinced we've stemmed the tide of crack cocaine in this 
community...no I'm not, but I am confident we've reached deep into 
the local drug trade," said Greater Sudbury Police Chief Ian Davidson.

"I also do know 37 dealers are in jail or will soon be in jail."

An undercover officer was able to make numerous purchases of crack 
cocaine during this project, which resulted in the 37 individuals 
being charged with more than 200 various drug-related offences.

Over $120,000 of crack cocaine was seized and purchased during the 
investigation.

In November, the courts in Sudbury clearly indicated dealers will pay 
a heavy price.

A young man caught three times in a few weeks selling crack cocaine 
to an undercover police officer last April and May was sentenced to 
two years in a federal penitentiary Thursday.
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