Pubdate: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 Source: Cape Breton Post (CN NS) Copyright: 2007 Cape Breton Post Contact: http://www.capebretonpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/777 Author: Sharon Montgomery MP WANTS MONEY TO BATTLE DRUGS NEW WATERFORD - This community's drug problem is not unique, according to Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking. "There is a drug problem not only in New Waterford, but also on the Northside and in different pockets all over Cape Breton," he said. "No area is immune to it." Eyking was responding to a meeting of the Community Partnership on Drug Abuse held in New Waterford, Monday evening. During that session, committee member and Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Edgar MacLeod commented on the community's drug problem. The partnership was formed in 2004 to address drug abuse in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. The MP is concerned the drug problem is only being dealt with as a crime issue. He wants to see more resources used to prevent drug abuse and to help people battling drug problems. "This is what we will be pushing when (Parliament) resumes. Yes, there is money going to penalize people that are in the drug system, but that is not going to cure the problem of people using. I am not saying this is not something we shouldn't be doing, but you also have to get right to the source of why people are taking them and how to deal with them once they start taking them." The MP has also spoken to the RCMP regarding the issue. Eyking sent a letter in November to Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day asking for more resources for policing. "I want to ensure Cape Breton is getting its fair share of federal resources and that proper staffing levels are in place to give the residents throughout the CBRM and Cape Breton, effective and efficient policing to deal with drug crime and the other variety of crimes linked to the drug trade." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek