The Merge hosts fentanyl information session If there was ever a time that people needed to talk to their kids about drugs, it would be now. The importance of education and communication were the key topics brought up during an information session on the drug fentanyl held at The Merge on Feb. 9. Staff Sgt. Dale Foote, of the Burin Peninsula detachment of the RCMP, was one of the invited speakers for the evening. "Everyone thinks that the overdose at the hospital is going to be the individual that is addicted to drugs, that's not (always) that case," said Foote during his presentation. "We're living in a time right now where the types of drugs people are using are lethal if they're inhaled by anybody, they're lethal if some one comes in contact with them - that's very important for our teenagers to know." [continues 211 words]
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the latest budget brought huge debt, a two per cent increase in the HST and shutdowns of everything from seniors' dental programs to more than half the province's public libraries. In Prince Edward Island, the HST's up one per cent, while Nova Scotia has gone through public sector wages to eke out the barest slender slip of a balanced budget. New Brunswick? It also raised HST by two points to 15 per cent and is talking about public sector job cuts. [continues 506 words]
Colorado Raking in Taxes From Legalized Weed A pall hangs over Denver, Colorado. Lawlessness stalks its streets, while stupefied potheads loll on every corner, stoned senseless on legal weed. Well, actually, no, it's not really like that at all. Really, it's just another day. Denver's like any other big American city: on the 16th Street Mall, there are vagrants on the corners, Broncos and Patriots fans spooling around while they wait for the start of the AFC final later in the day. Coffee shops are setting out chairs in the unseasonable warmth, and a robot street performer, painted entirely silver, is making plans with friends for after the game. [continues 509 words]
Canadian Safety Council raising awareness of the dangers of driving while impaired by drugs The Canadian Safety Council is concerned that not enough people are aware of the serious consequences of driving while impaired by drugs. The organization said in a news release that the focus, traditionally, has been on alcohol-impaired crashes, while fatalities linked to the use of drugs tend to fly under the radar. A report from the safety council says statistics show that testing done on drivers who died in crashes found 33 per cent showed signs of drug impairment. [continues 83 words]
Weekly Narcotics Anonymous meeting being offered at Burin hospital Stacey Johnson (not her real name) was in her mid-20s when she decided to attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting for the first time. "I remember exactly what I was wearing, and I remember exactly where I sat, and I was just waiting, trying to find the differences, any reason for me not to feel like I was part of this group," she told The Southern Gazette last week. She stuck around for about two months but said ultimately she "just wasn't sick enough." [continues 801 words]
While 'Bootlegging' Is Still on the Radar, Illegal Drug Trade Now More of a Problem It's been about a year since a shift in the RCMP at the federal policing level came into effect. Before Apr. 1, 2013, federal units were identified and assigned to specific areas of mandate - customs and excise, drug enforcement or some other specialization. Now, however, serious organized crime, in general, is the target, irrespective of the commodity. For the Burin-based unit, in addition to how the it does business, the shift meant a name change from Customs and Excise to Federal Policing Operations West. [continues 333 words]
Burin Peninsula District RCMP Staff Sergeant Wayne Edgecombe said 'youth involvement in crime' has been added as a divisional priority for the upcoming year. Invited to meet with the Burin Peninsula Joint Town Council Wednesday evening, he acknowledged that doesn't necessarily mean just dealing with youths who have run afoul of the law, but also involves targeting how crime affects young people. He explained in that regard, drugs and youth will be a big part of the annual policing plan. [continues 543 words]
Earlier this month, the federal government said it would be stepping up security on the VIA rail system, in the wake of bomb plot earlier this year. Now, anyone who wants to travel on VIA Rail, will be subject to security checks equivalent to that at Canada's major airports. Since we're on the subject of national security, it's time for the Canadian government to review other transportation systems where security is lacking, or non-existent; such as Marine Atlantic ferries. [continues 550 words]
A group of Marystown area parents, about 60-70 in all, attended a public meeting at the Little Bay Heritage Centre Saturday called by the 'Stand Against Drugs on the Burin Peninsula Committee'. Spokesperson Ruby Hoskins, who chaired the meeting, asked those present to sign three petitions, in an effort to battle what the committee believes is a growing issue with drugs and drug abuse throughout the peninsula. Mrs. Hoskins told the meeting "The RCMP say drugs are readily accessible in Marystown." [continues 264 words]
Editor; Junk food will kill many times more Canadians this year than all illegal drugs combined. Drugs aren't the problem. Drugs do not possess magical powers that force people to do things. It is our ridiculous, racist, arbitrary and wildly counterproductive prohibition laws causing the problems. And that is not an 'opinion', as this article was; it is backed by a century of science, history and common sense. We live in a culture that glamorizes sex, fun, danger, thrills, law scoffing, risk-taking, rule breaking, power, wealth-acquisition and authority resisting. We advertise booze, fast cars, fast food, violent movies and video games and drugs of all kinds right on TV. [continues 280 words]
Parents attending a DARE graduation ceremony at Donald C. Jamieson Academy in Burin last week received a reminder from police. The message was that they, too, must be extra vigilant in the effort to protect their children against the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Students from Anita Piercey's and Margaret Ann Cleal's two Grade 6 classes were rewarded June 14 for the successful completion of the DARE - 'Drug Abuse Resistance Education' - program, instructed by Cst. Mike Martel of the RCMP's Burin Customs and Excise Section, with certificates and a party at the school. [continues 404 words]
Another RCMP DARE program graduation in the elementary schools and a warning again from the police about 'drug usage' among youth on the Burin Peninsula. Drugs with names like Percocets, Ecstasy, OxyContin, Crystal Meth and even prescription drugs - all obtained illegally - may sound foreign to many older people, but they're becoming a part of the regular jargon for young people. Another term which arose at the Jamieson Academy DARE graduation - 'The Pit'. It's an area near Pearce Junior High in Salt Pond where youth hang out, and strange and wild things can be found strewn around on the ground. [continues 302 words]
Editor; This is truly an unjust world when you can go to prison for life, for sending seeds to another country; but if you send troops, you get a Noble Peace Prize. Do we really need a foreign government stepping in and disciplining one of our citizens, for something as trivial as selling seeds on the internet? As a nation, we should be ashamed of the way we have treated Marc Emery. The man has paid his taxes, given to charity and helped untold thousands of medical marijuana users. It disgusts me the lack of attention the media is giving this issue. [continues 105 words]
Do you know if your son has smoked pot yet? Has your daughter tried ecstasy? How would you know as a parent? How do you talk to your kids about drugs and not sound like 'your parents?' The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is now offering 'Kids and Drugs, a Parents guide to Prevention'. This program gives parents the right information to discuss drug use with their children. The program deals with the following topics: - How do parents talk to children? - What do we say to them? - Are we giving them the right information about the dangers of drugs? - Are we being good role models for our children? This program is built on best practice evidence and focuses on improving interactions between children and parents through improved communication, support, decision making and discipline. It's targeted at parents of school-aged children (8-15). [continues 98 words]
Drug use age younger. Sgt. Bill Dwyer claims drug use in the province continues to be a problem - particularly cocaine, 'club drugs' such as ecstasy and the ever-present marijuana. At the same time, the average age when young people first try these substances is dropping, from age 12 for alcohol and marijuana to 15 for club drugs. "It's getting young, isn't it?" The provincial co-ordinator for the RCMP's Drug and Organized Crime Awareness Service indicated the nature of club drugs in particular has proved alarming. [continues 265 words]
Dealing With Drugs . If you met Glen Newman two years ago, he wouldn't have been able to tell you much about the drug culture. These days his level of information is pretty scary, especially in rural Newfoundland. "I asked yesterday, what's available? "According to what was said around the table, there are drugs readily available, here, everything from cocaine and ecstasy to marijuana." Mr. Newman is a master trainer from 'Focus on the Family Canada'. He was in Springdale to teach a group of community leaders to present a program called 'How to Drug Proof Your Kids'. The program began in Australia and has been in Canada since 2002. [continues 595 words]
Sergeant Wayne Edgecombe, of the Burin Peninsula District RCMP Detachment, acknowledged cocaine use in rural Newfoundland was a rarity two decades ago. Not anymore. Since the oil boom in Alberta exploded a couple of years ago, and people from this province began regularly travelling back and forth on shift rotations, the situation has changed dramatically. Cocaine has joined marijuana as the drug of choice in Newfoundland and Labrador, some might say even overtaken. Yes, even on the Burin Peninsula. Sgt. Edgecombe indicated "Crack cocaine and coke are the drugs of choice in Fort McMurray and these places, and some of it seems to be filtering back here. [continues 602 words]
If you drive a car, and you are on medication, or if you take prescription drugs or illegal drugs, you may get time in a bottle. The amount of time you get - jail time that is - will depend upon what you put in the bottle. With great fanfare Prime Minister Harper announced last week a new law aimed at stopping drug impaired drivers. The last Liberal government almost got one passed before the last election, but this time Prime Minister says he is going to get this one passed. [continues 664 words]
Grade Five students at Sacred Heart Academy in Marystown are ready to 'just say no!' Students celebrated the completion of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's 'Drug Abuse Resistance Education' program, or DARE, with a graduation at the school June 19. It was the first time two classes participated in the program - previous years had been limited to just one. Cst. Nicole Wilmott of the Burin Peninsula District RCMP, who has instructed the program at Sacred Heart for the past three years, described it as an effective method of empowering youth with the knowledge to make informed decisions when confronted with difficult situations. [continues 182 words]
The election is on, and each political party is claiming to be different from the others. However, there are some laws all three political parties agree on in principle. It appears three new laws are bound to be passed after the election regardless of which political party forms the government. If you are a driver of a car and you take prescription drugs that affect your senses, or if you smoke pot, or if you're tempted to catch a cod illegally, read on. [continues 574 words]
