Pubdate: Fri, 01 May 2015
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: John Noakes

END USERS MAY WANT TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR

Editor:

Many of us may have read Michael Smyth's column, Culture of Silence,
in the Province newspaper.

There was also coverage on television news.

The coverage tells of gun-packing drug dealers who have turned Surrey
into a war zone. MLA Harry Bains is grieving the death of his nephew,
Arun Bains, who died as a result of one of these shootings.

Sgt. Lindsey Houghton spoke at a packed public meeting and police
distributed some 800 information booklets to parents as part of the
effort to break the cycle of violence.

English, Punjabi and Chinese versions of the booklet are available
online as part of a program called End Gang Life.

The drug culture spans across all walks of life and respects
nobody.

What does the average drug dealer look like? What age group is
involved? Do most carry knives for intimidation and protection?

More and more, our own neighbourhoods are being affected by the drug
trade.

The faces of people I saw close by were faces of young people, for the
most part. But, they were probably working for others whose faces were
clouded in secrecy.

We need to understand there is another side to the story. It's a side
that isn't so great to hear because it involves the marketplace for
the drugs these people sell.

It involves the end users. It might involve the person next door who
likes to use. It might involve the folks who like to have the extra
stuff at a party where bigger money and influence shows up for a good
time.

It's easy enough to say society abhors the very thought of 14-year-old
girls being lured into the drug trade. The end users really didn't
hire her for sex - well, maybe not directly, but the tears and loss of
innocence might be like blood on your hands, regardless.

We hate to live through all of the stuff leading to a point at which a
house gets shot full of holes and the realization comes that something
finally has to be done about the situation.

Stop the using part of the equation if you really want change. Take
away the market for the product and it's a step in the right direction.

John Noakes

Kamloops
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MAP posted-by: Matt