"Every Community In Nunavut Has A Drug Problem, Without Exception" Nunavut police have vowed to continue their crack-down on drug trafficking in Nunavut, as they emerge from a bountiful year of arrests and marijuana seizures. RCMP recently compiled their crime statistics for 2004, revealing a sizeable increase in drug charges. Last year, the RCMP drug squad and regular officers carried out drug busts and laid 382 charges, a 25 per cent increase from 2003, when police laid 308 charges. Insp. Paul Young, a senior officer with the RCMP's "V" Division in Nunavut, credited the increase to the drug squad's decision to pay less attention to lower-rung dealers. [continues 437 words]
Live-in Program Provides Alternative to Treatment Outside Territory Cambridge Bay counsellors are reaching out to Nunavut women addicted to drugs or booze, in an effort to provide help that is unavailable in the rest of the territory. The community is welcoming applications from any women who want to join other troubled Nunavummiut in the only live-in treatment program in the territory. The program offers four weeks of intensive counselling for free to women who show they are willing and able to face their addictions. [continues 496 words]
Curbing Drug and Alcohol Abuse First Step In Crime Prevention Insp. Doug Reti, head of the RCMP's criminal operations department in Nunavut, said the rising crime stats could be a result of the territory's population boom, and an influx of money into some communities. He said these changes usually lead to increased social problems, such as alcoholism. "We have a problem in Nunavut with violence, and a lot of that violence is spurred on by alcohol," Reti said. He cautioned the bleak statistics might reflect Nunavummiut's increased access to police, instead of a drastic jump in crime. [continues 400 words]
Advisors Say Study Will Help Inuit Around The World Advisors to a research team in Nunavik hope a study beginning this month will lead to better treatment facilities for Inuit alcoholics and drug addicts. The study, which will take up to three years to complete, specifically targets youth, in hopes of better understanding their attitudes towards drug and alcohol. A team of researchers from L'universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres will meet with students, ranging in age from 11 to 18, at Jaanimmarik School in Kuujjuaq this week, to ask them about their habits and feelings related to drugs and alcohol. [continues 574 words]
Intelligence Squads On Hand To Monitor Clubhouse Inauguration A fledgling chapter of the Hells Angels is officially open for business in Niagara, police say. Regional and provincial intelligence squads were called to monitor the biker gang's new clubhouse in Welland on Saturday afternoon. NRP Sergeant John Kennedy said the notorious motorcycle gang was out in force for a party to mark the inauguration of its clubhouse, a former auto repair shop along Darby Road in rural Welland. Revellers showed off bikes, chatted and partied in the clubhouse under the watchful eyes of anti-biker police officers. The massive show of gang colours came as no surprise to local security forces. [continues 387 words]
