Pubdate: Tue, 02 Feb 2010
Source: Whitecourt Star (CN AB)
Copyright: 2010 Osprey Media
Contact: http://www.whitecourtstar.com/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx
Website: http://www.whitecourtstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/718
Author: Sebastien Perth

A SIMPLE FIGHT

By no means does Whitecourt have some sort of rampant drug abuse problem.

To say so would be untrue and sensational. What is true, however, is 
that those who are addicted to hard drugs such as cocaine and speed 
are, according to the RCMP, wreaking a bit of havoc in town by 
breaking into businesses or resorting to thievery.

Cocaine is a popular drug. It's the drug of choice amongst adults, 
whereas speed is abused by a select group of individuals. Since 
arriving to North American, imported by some enterprising criminals, 
cocaine has made quite a splash - affecting the fabric of society 
from the largest urban centres to towns and villages.

Imported primarily from South America, cocaine is derived from the 
Coca Leaf, an indigenous plant of northwestern South America - 
Columbia is famous for its illegal cultivation of this plant.

It was in the 1980s when drug dealers started to combine baking soda 
and cocaine to create crack - a more addictive form of the drug.

Here in Alberta, cocaine which sells from between $80-$150 a gram, is 
used by a wide segment of society - anyone from doctors to the 
homeless abuse the drug in either its rock or powder form. The 
earning potential of many Albertans facilitates use as well.

In recent years, many energy companies have turned to drug tests to 
clamp down on cocaine abuse, which is well known to have taken place 
on the job site of many oil rigs and otherwise.

Every week there seems to be another story about the drug, how or who 
has been caught selling it - just this past week two 17 year olds and 
one 14 year old were caught allegedly dealing two ounces of the drug.

While RCMP here say youth in the area turn to marijuana, cocaine 
might be even easier to obtain as a simple phone call usually brings 
a dealer to one's doorstep.

As a drug that is imported and not produced locally, cocaine should 
be an easy fix. It is, however, not an easy fix. One of the primary 
reasons for this is because of greed. An incredible amount of money 
can be made off the drug, therefore it sparks corruption at all 
levels - giving it a foot in the door.

Drug abuse will always be with us. It always has been. Perhaps the 
best way to fight it is to educate the public on its affects. One 
dose of cocaine can kill. Crack can decimate a life socially and 
healthwise in a manner of months. As Canada's population ages, 
drug-related illnesses will only further burden an already overweight 
system failing under inflation and increased cost of treating chronic disease.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart