Re: Halton Desperately In Need Of Detox Centre (March 1, The Post). The Post's front page article was misleading. The article focuses on the lack of services and programs in Halton Region that can assist young people and their families with substance abuse problems. An inside headline noted the "lack of treatment in Halton leaves parents feeling helpless." Although insufficient funding for alcohol/drug treatment is a genuine issue for adults and youths alike, the article failed to note that community alcohol and drug treatment services are available to Halton youth and their parents free of charge at ADAPT. [continues 138 words]
Trafficking in any illegal drug is more serious than simple possession. Jail terms are the norm, whatever the substance involved. Trafficking is not, however, limited to selling these drugs for profit. Rather the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act defines "traffic" to mean "to sell, administer, give, transfer, transport, send or deliver the substance" or to even offer to do any of these things. Profit is not a necessary element of the offence. Some individuals buy drugs in larger quantities to get a better price and sell to friends that which they don't need. This is trafficking. In fact, one court ruled that simply giving a narcotic to a friend for safekeeping amounted to trafficking. [continues 575 words]
Every time the Halton police drug and morality squad successfully raids an illegal marijuana grow house, its officers are pretty sure they're making a significant dent in the illegal marijuana business. But the officer who heads up the squad admits police aren't yet sure exactly what they're up against. "I wish I knew," Sgt. Larry Burns said. "The unknown is how many (illegal grow houses) are actually out there. I think there are a lot more than we know about." [continues 262 words]
We don't understand why caring parents should have to leave Halton to get help for their drug-addicted children (March 1, The Post). The lack of treatment programs and facilities in this region was made loud and clear at a recent meeting of Parent Watch, a not-for-profit organization that aims to help parents of troubled children. Dozens of parents gathered to speak about their feelings of helplessness and despair where their child's welfare is concerned. The cumulative effect of watching their sons and daughters get deeper and deeper into trouble with drugs made these parents do what some apparently won't -- talk about the growing problem in public. [continues 256 words]
The law in Canada regarding illegal drugs used to be covered by two federal statutes. These were The Narcotic Control Act and The Food and Drugs Act. Some activities were dealt with under the Criminal Code. Now, everything is pretty well consolidated in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). That act makes it illegal to produce or import these substances or to traffic in them or even to possess them whether for one's own use or for the purpose of trafficking. [continues 589 words]
Parent Watch Meeting Hears Of Growing Frustration Over Lack Of Services Imagine your 14-year-old son landing in the hospital as a result of drug use. Imagine the shock and anger you feel discovering he's using illegal drugs. Imagine the fear you feel for his health, his safety, his future. Now, imagine the frustration you feel when you discover that there are very few services in Halton to help you deal with him and his problems. The anger, the fear and the frustration were front and centre at a meeting of Halton Parent Watch on Monday. [continues 501 words]
Halton police ask residents to report suspicious neighbourhood activity Recent raids on hydroponics grow houses in Halton mean significant dents are being made into the highly-lucrative home-grown marijuana business. But Halton police say grow houses are still operating in the region and encourage residents to report any suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods to them. "It's been pretty active in the GTA for 18 months to two years,' Det. Larry Burns of the police's narcotics unit said. "It's so lucrative. Some of these houses we're getting are going undetected; they're harvesting three to four times per year." [continues 249 words]
Halton Regional Police Chief Ean Algar used the example of increased gang activity in the region to justify asking the Police Services Board for more money. While the gangs may not be headquartered in Halton, that doesn't stop them from doing business here, the chief told the board. "They don't just hit the border and say it's Halton. They come here...they're all here," said Algar. But the chief noted that policing gang activity is just one of a myriad of pressures facing the service. Deputy Chief Gary Crowell echoed Algar's sentiments and said there are at least two Hell's Angels members in our area and Georgetown is home to one motorcycle club. [continues 424 words]
The Halton Region needle exchange program is set to move beyond the pilot project stage. The region's health and social services committee members recently passed a motion that will see the program -- named Exchange Works -- become a permanent health department program subject to the approval of the 2002 operating budget. The annual Exchange Works budget is estimated at $81,000. Regional council is expected to formally address the matter this week. "Based on the information we have right now, we feel the program needs to continue," Halton's Medical Health Officer, Dr. Bob Nosal, told the committee. [continues 257 words]
I was reading the article: Health committee wants needle exchange program to continue (Oct. 21, The Post) and I must say it absolutely infuriates me. You see I am an insulin-dependent diabetic who must have needles everyday just so I can live. Although I have searched everywhere, nowhere can I find a needle exchange for diabetics. I must buy them myself, which, along with all the other medication I require, is quite costly. I will gladly exchange my old needles for new ones free of charge. [continues 172 words]
\While raves are not a local policing problem, strictly speaking, the fact that area youth attend all-night dance parties in other jurisdictions remains of deep concern to Halton's police chief. "They're our kids and we don't want to lose any of them," said Ean Algar. A recent report by Dr. Robert Nosal, Halton's Medical Officer of Health, justifies Algar's fears by pointing out the potential dangers of raves which range from crowd control to fire hazards. Nosal concedes that while not all attendees take drugs to enhance the rave experience, other pitfalls they may encounter include dehydration and the lack of water, inadequate ventilation, gang-related violence and the potential for physical and sexual assault. [continues 310 words]
Burlington marijuana crusader Alison Myrden said she was hoping to raise both money and awareness at a benefit concert at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern. The famous Queen Street bar was to play host last night (Thursday) to groups like the A-cups, Sticky Rice, J.P. Wasson and the headlining act was Burlington's own Breathe. Myrden is one of 292 people across Canada legally entitled to possess small quantities of marijuana to ease her pain. She suffers from a form of multiple sclerosis, and smoking the drug provides her relief from a constant stabbing pain in her face. [continues 138 words]
While raves are not a local policing problem, strictly speaking, the fact that area youth attend all-night dance parties in other jurisdictions remains of deep concern to Halton's police chief. "They're our kids and we don't want to lose any of them," said Ean Algar. A recent report by Dr. Robert Nosal, Halton's Medical Officer of Health, justifies Algar's fears by pointing out the potential dangers of raves which range from crowd control to fire hazards. Dr. Nosal concedes that while not all attendees take drugs to enhance the rave experience, other pitfalls they may encounter include dehydration and the lack of water, inadequate ventilation, gang related violence and the potential for physical and sexual assault. [continues 409 words]
As Alison Myrden speaks she is still in bed, even though it's close to noon. She's taking another dose of morphine, without the marijuana she needs to feel well. This morning the symptoms from her MS are giving her problems. She's tired and having trouble finding kind words for the federal government's latest initiatives to help sick people gain access to medical marijuana. "They're still not hearing what we're saying -- they can claim that we're being taken care of, but the problem still exists," she said. "I don't have the money for it, but I need to smoke if I'm to have any quality of life." [continues 839 words]
