Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jul 2007
Source: Barrie Examiner (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007, Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2317
Author: Kristen Charron
Note: Kristen Charron is a reporter with The Wallaceburg News

MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO EDUCATE CHILDREN ABOUT DRUGS

Addicts Made the Choice to Take That First Hit Knowing the Potential
Consequences of Their Actions.

It's about time government took a firmer stance on eradicating drug
use in Canada.

Dug addiction and the issues surrounding substance abuse are an ever
growing problem in towns and cities across the country. Yet not enough
is being done to combat the problem. Not only are possession and
trafficking penalties more of a slap on the wrist than actual
deterrents, for a time, our former government was even contemplating
legalizing marijuana.

The reasoning behind the proposal was to enable police to focus more
time on major dealers and less time on small time pushers and users.
Unfortunately, as long as there is demand, there will be supply.

And trying to eliminate the demand is where our governments have
fallen short.

In Vancouver, to help combat the ever-growing death toll of drug
addicts, the government is implementing safe injection sites for
heroin users.

The idea is that if users have a safe haven to shoot up, they will be
less likely to contract diseases from sharing needles with infected
individuals.

Needle exchange programs, whereby users surrender used needles for
sterile ones, have also been implemented for this same reason.

The problem with safe injection sites is that they do nothing to
encourage addicts to stop using. They also do nothing to stop people
from taking drugs and becoming addicted in the first place.

Addicts made the choice to take that first hit knowing the potential
consequences of their actions. Yet they chose to engage in the
activity anyway.

And for those who didn't know sharing needles can result in the spread
of disease or that an overdose can result in death, it further
emphasizes the need to educate youth long before they come into
contact with these illegal substances.

According to Heath Canada's web site, the median percentage of
adolescent drug users (children in Grade 7 through 9) in Canada is
16.7.

If more would have been done to educate these children on the ill
effects of substance abuse at an earlier age, perhaps they would have
avoided the drug scene entirely.

But it is not too late.

With highly addicted drugs, such as methamphetamines, becoming more
accessible and prominent in our communities, children need to know the
side effects and risks associated with their use.

They also need to learn about other dangers associated with their
production.

The drug itself appears crystal or ice-like. A curious child could
overdose or die if they are not properly educated.

Crack is also a problem in neighbouring communities. Unknowing or
unsuspecting children who may find discarded paraphernalia could be
seriously injured, contract a disease or accidentally inject
themselves with some of the leftover substance.

Rather than pumping money solely into rehabilitation, methadone
clinics and safe injection sites, more should be done to educate youth.

Teaching preschool and primary grade school children about the dangers
of touching these foreign objects and the negative effects drug use
can have on a person should be a government priority.

This education should continue throughout elementary school to help
protect our kids from becoming our community's future drug addicts.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake