During his election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to legalize marijuana if we chose him as our leader. That day is near, and marijuana might be legalized on Canada Day 2018. Such a decision should not be taken lightly. Our country is not ready for this change. To clarify, I don't want to come across as cynical. I know that medical marijuana has its place in treating patients with chronic or terminal illness. I also don't agree with throwing people in jail for carrying small amounts for personal use. I see this as a waste of time, money and resources. At the same time, however, I don't think that the legalization of marijuana is what our country needs. And I certainly don't think it will make our country healthier, happier or safer. The decision to legalize marijuana has implications for health, society and our youth. [continues 547 words]
Many Canadians are becoming increasingly concerned with the federal government's proposed legalization of recreational marijuana. Rigorous scientific studies are not available on its long-term effects to users. Quite the opposite, what is available points to an irreversible neurological degeneration, in particular for young people. It took more than 400 years of ingesting the tobacco drug into the human body before the weight of evidence was accepted by the majority of governments that it was a disaster to human life. [continues 320 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]
According to a 2012 Atlantic Student Drug Use Survey of junior and high school students, almost half of the students surveyed in Newfoundland and Labrador had not used any substances in the previous year, a significant improvement from past survey results. The findings from this survey will be used to inform policies, programs and future campaigns, and will help to identify important opportunities to create awareness and promote prevention of substance use among youth. "The survey results provide valuable insights into the behaviour of youth, and although there are some encouraging trends, it is imperative that we work with parents, schools and students, in particular, to create awareness of the pitfalls of substance use," said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. [continues 213 words]
Illegal drugs flood Labrador West An increase in wealth has increased another serious problem in Labrador West. Illegal drugs are flooding the community and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has an uphill battle. "We're into an economic boom here, so it's a lot of money flowing around," said RNC Cons. Bill Fitzgerald. "With the boom, you get the good and the bad, and unfortunately the drugs are a part of the negative side of it." Cocaine choice He said there's a wide array of drugs out there from ecstasy to speed to marijuana, but cocaine seems to be the drug of choice. [continues 602 words]
Dear Editor: RE: Safety trumps privacy (Feb. 1, 2010 editorial) "Sure marijuana is not even in the ballpark with crack cocaine, but it does fall under the illegal category making it difficult to justify its use." I can think of about a dozen reasons to justify using cannabis. It has dozens of medical applications, and even when smoked, its benefits outweigh any dangers. Also, chronic daily users don't suffer anywhere near the impairment that a casual user would. By that I mean, there are people smoking 10 joints a day and you would never know it to look at them, while other people are visibly impaired by just a few tokes. [continues 52 words]
There's nothing black and white about whether mandatory drug testing should or should not be practiced in any workplace. When any drug significantly alters a person's physical and/or mental state, many would argue a user poses safety risks in many work environments. Every employer has a strict responsibility to eliminate any and all risks to safety. Not many would be shocked to learn a manager sent home an employee who showed up for work reeking of alcohol-whether it's stale or fresh. It's pretty well an acceptable assumption the individual is under the influence of the drug (alcohol) and poses a risk to him/herself and to coworkers as well. [continues 662 words]
Four girls became seriously ill while attending a wedding celebration on the Paul First Nation, west of Edmonton, early Sunday morning and were taken to hospital after allegedly taking what they thought was ecstasy. Police were called after the girls suddenly became sick. Three of the teens were rushed to hospital in Edmonton. Two died. The RCMP has checked the pills and has confirmed there is NO evidence the drugs were laced with anything. That's straight fact. The very same ecstasy is available in virtually any community in Newfoundland and Labrador. See, it doesn't have to be laced with anything to be deadly. [continues 433 words]
Weed smokers beware. You aren't going to like what I have say, so stop reading now. The rest of you, continue. It's been a few weeks since Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps made international headlines after a photo of him allegedly inhaling some kind of 'natural' substance surfaced on the Internet, and reaction has been swift. My own included. Phelps was the boy wonder of the Beijing Games winning a record eight gold medals as a swimmer and inspiring millions of people worldwide with his carefree buoyant attitude. He must have been on top of the world, and no doubt the whole world was gazing up at him. [continues 592 words]
Hairdresser Raises Money, Awareness Through 12-Hour Cut-A-Thon Deanna Howell wants to cut the drugs in Labrador West. The Labrador City hairdresser hosted a 12-hour cut-a-thon at the Labrador West Youth Centre Nov. 22, as part of a campaign to raise awareness about drug use. "I wanted to make kids, parents and anyone who has had any kind of personal experience with drugs, aware of what's going on in the community," she stated. "I've never done drugs, but I've had someone close to me who has, so I wanted to make people aware about what's going on here." [continues 470 words]
The majority of Canadians use some type of drug during their lives, though most do not experience problems or misuse drugs. People use drugs for a variety of reasons, which varies from the type of drug to the person and occasion. Let's look at some common factors involved. What role do the media have in drug use? Advertisements on radio or television, in magazines, newspapers all are influential in the way people think about drugs in general. Product sponsorship of sport and artistic events, portrayal of substance use in plays and movies and availability of information on the internet also play a part in how people perceive legal and illegal drug use. [continues 505 words]
When you say the word addiction, most people relate it with illegal drugs such as cocaine or heroin, but there are more people addicted to legal drugs like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol, than hard drugs. Just take a drive by Tim Horton's around 7:30 a.m., and watch as cars line up in the drive thru, with people in a rush to get their morning fix. Most people don't think of caffeine as a drug, but it is. It's a stimulant found in pain relievers, cold medications, coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolate and other foods and beverages. [continues 557 words]
Also known as "Acid", this drug is the most potent and highly studied hallucinogen known to man. It belongs to the class of drugs which basically make you think you see and hear things that aren't really there. The drug itself, known as Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD for short) is a form of a fungus toxin that infects rye and other grasses. LSD was first extracted in 1938 by Dr. Albert Hoffman. At the time, he was researching for a circulatory stimulant, but instead accidentally ingested a dose of it, and discovered its hallucinogenic properties. One particular psychologist who was conducting experiments into the potential medicinal use of acid commented that it kept him unable to speak for five days and that he never recovered from the mind-shattering experience. The drug, identified as having no therapeutic use, was outlawed in the 1960's. The popularity of acid reached its peak during the 60's hippie movement but gradually declined through the next 30 years as the psycho-stimulant drug ecstasy replaced it in popularity among younger users. [continues 380 words]
Dear Editor: In Cpl Keith MacKinnon's Op Ed titled "common sense" he fails to make any (sense). His logic drifts around quite a bit, but his conclusion that legalizing cannabis would somehow add to the woes created by alcohol use is way off point. The fact is people use cannabis and the main difference is if it were legal it could be taxed, regulated, and black markets would disappear. In countries such as the The Netherlands were its permitted rates of use are much lower than in Canada or the US, so it cannot be argued that making it legal would increase use. The fact, back to Cpl MacKinnon's main point about alcohol being the worst drug, is that if cannabis were more widely available perhaps people would use less alcohol. David Lane Santa Cruz, CA [end]
Do you know that responsible drinkers only account for about half of a given brewers sales? Gross alcohol consumers account for the other half. The harms associated with alcohol abuse are responsible for millions of dollars in health care costs across Canada every year. We need to be aware that advertising in our society always has a target audience, and in many cases that is teenage youth and adolescents. Different approaches/opinions are held in treating this problem. When I hear proponents for marihuana legalization expressing their view I can't help but consider that our one licit substance, alcohol creates more harms than all other drugs combined. [continues 409 words]
Every few years, there is a drug survey of students from Grades 7 to 12 to gain insight into trends and habits as reported by the students themselves. This year, 3900 students across Newfoundland and Labrador took part in the survey and the statistics are encouraging. The survey suggests that five per cent more students in 2007 have abstained from all substance abuse compared to in 2003. Alcohol, cannabis and cigarettes continue to be the substances most commonly used by students in Newfoundland and Labrador, keeping in line with the rest of Atlantic Canada. [continues 507 words]
re: The Drug Deal-addictions awareness Dear Editor: Addiction is an awareness of how we govern ourselves as individuals and as a country. It is what was not said that concerns me most. Libertarians like Milton Friedman and Dr. Thomas Szasz makes the strongest case for a free-market in all drugs based on the Jeffersonian observation in his Notes On Virginia that "Were the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now. Thus in France the emetic was once forbidden as a medicine, and the potato as an article of food. [continues 901 words]
Addictions Services Encourages Parents To Talk To Kids Addictions Services wants Labrador West families to become more drug aware. Kim Blake, an addictions counsellor with Labrador-Grenfell Health, explained Addictions Awareness Week is taking place from Nov. 18-24 and it's a good opportunity for residents to learn more about drugs, alcohol and gambling. This year's theme 'Get Up On It' is the same as last year, however, Ms. Blake noted the Addictions Awareness Week Planning Committee, made up of representatives from Mental Health, Addictions Services, the Labrador Regional Wellness Coalition and various other local community groups, decided to focus on families. [continues 510 words]
"Alcohol kills 6.5 times more youth than all other illicit drugs combined." November 18-24th is Addictions Awareness Week and it is the focus for raising awareness on the problematic use of substances in our lives. In Newfoundland and Labrador the theme chosen by Addictions Services this year centers on the topic of alcohol and the importance of the family as the first point of learning about substances and how we can begin to reexamine the current trends. The NL Addictions Services catch phrase: "Get up on it" means: get informed, do some thinking and talking to youth in your lives about this important topic. The website is interactive and offers information for parents and young people alike on substances and gambling. A contest will soon be posted on the website. [continues 711 words]
Every once in a while we hear about a drug bust on the news. Take for example the 18 pounds of marihuana seized from a residence in Goose Bay last week. You may ask, "is there that much demand for weed in the area?" The answer is simply "yes". Large lots of drugs are typically broken down by the trafficker for sale in the outports of Newfoundland and Labrador in smaller quantities. Let's not fool ourselves into thinking "it's only weed". Weed kills. People using the drug today are smoking an extremely potent product. Then in their high, irrational state decide to get behind the wheel of a car and drive impaired-no different than getting drunk and doing the same. They risk the lives of others and themselves in the process, not just other drivers but pedestrians, kids on bicycles etc. How selfish can one get? [continues 417 words]
