Pubdate: Mon, 15 Aug 2011 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2011 The Edmonton Journal Contact: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: Grant Dorosh SOCIAL CHAOS ON EDMONTON'S STREETS BEGINS WITH ADDICTION Re: "Good answer to city's fears of murder rate," Opinion, Aug. 11. It is a sad reality that any public statement made is viewed as a satisfactory beginning to what is a multi-decade problem with roots that are societal and reflective in all communities in Alberta. The Stelmach regime's answer was "safer communities," which failed miserably. The federal government continues with the American-style building of more jails while leaving in place legislation that sees criminal gangs being sanctioned by the courts. In Edmonton, social initiatives are quashed by community leaders who say: "Build it anywhere but in my backyard." With this as the backdrop, as always, the policing agencies are given the unenviable task of cleaning up a societal mess brought on by 20-plus years of lax illicit drug enforcement and underfunded social transfers for addicts, coupled with a provincial government that centralizes all services within regional hubs rather than at the community level. If there is to be any hope of changing the "street tough" Edmonton culture it must begin at all levels of government, including within our public and separate schools, which continue to churn out young adults whose attitudes toward the better good of society are non-existent. Drug use begins in our schools and leads, for some, to lifelong addiction. While social scientists will continue to define the problem as multi-faceted, it remains a singular issue, brought on by addiction, no matter the decade or age of the addict. Until residents and community agencies whose work has done little to quell addiction recognize that new approaches and attitudes must be formulated to deal with the minority who have created the social chaos, expect little change in Edmonton's homicide rate. Hopefully whoever takes over the Alberta dictatorship that is the PC party will quickly implement social policies and priorities that will work at the provincial level. As for the federal government, it matters not who is sent to Ottawa, they quickly forget listening once they have gained their golden pensions. Grant Dorosh, Stony Plain - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart