The Federal Court of Canada has struck down regulations requiring licensed medical marijuana users to buy from Ottawa-approved growers, giving people the green light to continue growing at home. The ruling is suspended for six months, but the four B.C. residents who launched the court challenge had their growing licences protected under an earlier interim order. Thousands of people in B.C. and across Canada received licences to either grow pot themselves or designate someone else to do it, before the Conservative government attempted to restrict production to large commercial growers who sent it by mail. [continues 283 words]
Kitimat RCMP made multiple arrests and drug seizures during the month of May in the ongoing fight against illegal drug use and trafficking in the region. A recent survey of businesses and citizens in Kitimat identified drugs and drug-related crime as one of the main public concerns. In 2009, Kitimat RCMP made 20 drug-related arrests or seizures. To date in 2010, there have been 16 drug-related police actions and the number of drug-related incidents is again expected to increase during the summer months. [continues 240 words]
Dear sir, As a federally licensed medical marijuana user who is also married to one, I take exception with some of the information in your Addiction Awareness Week article (Sentinel, November 19). For example: "Even using 'just pot' can lead to psychological problems and the eventual use of harder drugs. Marijuana is as addictive as all the other drugs." There is no science to support the notion that pot 'causes' any psychological or physiological damage, and most science on the subject shows that pot is no more addictive than video games, caffeine, or chocolate. [continues 107 words]
Many of the gateway drugs are already finding their way into Kitimat which means it is vitally important to educate our youth before heavier drugs find their way. Mark McLaughlin, executive director and founder of Crystal Meth BC, visited Mount Elizabeth Secondary for a no-holds-barred presentation that dove deeply into the effects of the dangerous drug, methamphetamine. If anyone should know how meth can impact a life it's him - his child (the gender was not identified) once fell into the habit and it was only through constant support that the child was able to kick it. [continues 450 words]
During National Addiction Awareness Week (November 16-22), Northern Health's Mental and Addictions Advisory Committee in Kitimat are encouraging residents to take part in educational activities and carefully think about how addictions could affect their families. Addictions hit our communities much worse than you'd first think. Nearly one in five visits to a family doctor's office is by people with substance issues. Alcoholism leads to high usage of hospital beds and health services. Children as young as nine years of age start experimenting with drugs. Even using 'just pot' can lead to psychological problems and the eventual use of harder drugs. Marijuana is as addictive as all the other drugs. [continues 286 words]
BC Hydro and the Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General announced todayBC Hydro is partnering with the British Columbia Crime Stoppers Association to encourage people to report suspected marijuana grow operations. BC Hydro's energy diversion investigators will now be able to receive addresses of suspected grow-ops reported to the Crime Stoppers' Tip Line. This new information will assist the investigators in confirming energy thefts and recovering funds. Where evidence of thefts is found, BC Hydro lays complaints with law enforcement agencies, which in turn obtain search warrants and recommend charging suspects. [continues 276 words]
Addictions and mental health services have been integrated together in Kitimat by the Northern Health Authority. Some of these services were previously handled by Northwest Addictions Services but will now be operated out of the hospital, explained NHA area manager, mental health and addictions services Rick Gremm. But the people will remain the same, he added. This includes the addictions counsellor Dan O'Neill. "Dan brings something special to us," Gremm explained. "I'm so glad to have Dan onboard." O'Neill brings a lot of expertise in addictions services in the community but he will also be cross-trained in mental health services as well, Gremm added. [continues 684 words]
Under the guidance of RCMP Cst. Sara Mottishaw, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program is once again reaching out to students in both Kitimat and Kitamaat Village. The purpose of DARE is to inform children about decisions they will have to confront in their lives regarding drugs, alcohol and smoking, Mottishaw explained. "It teaches them to make healthy decisions," she added. The program breaks down the decision-making process into four points, which also make up the DARE acronym: Define the problem; Assess what choices could be made; Respond to the decision; and finally Evaluate whether it was a good choice. Students are provided with workbooks which include various situations to which the students apply the DARE principles, Mottishaw said. Her first posting, Mottishaw has been stationed in Kitimat for more than a year and a half now and began teaching the program in early February. [end]
Say goodbye to the high school smoke pit. The Coast Mountains school district is poised to enact a sweeping new policy that will establish no-smoking zones around schools. Those would extend from a minimum of 50 metres around school properties to as far as several blocks away, meaning scenes of teens huddled on public sidewalks as they puff away within sight of their school will become a thing of the past. The proposed policy would also see a blanket ban on tobacco use that would extend to all school district property, buildings and vehicles. Earlier this month, school trustees gave first reading to three draft policies that will have a direct impact on student life. [continues 379 words]
Dear sir, Re: 'Drug dogs eyed', (Sentinel, Dec. 8), as the Kitimat RCMP detachment commander I wish to assure the citizens of Kitimat that our detachment is committed to working closely with school officials on the issue of drugs within our schools. As a progressive policing organization, I view our role as building bridges with our youth through enabling positive relationships and not through unnecessary, overly aggressive enforcement measures that only serve to disenfrachise youth in that relationship building process. The issue of drugs in our schools should incorporate a balanced approach of enforcement and dialogue involving school officials, students, parents and community members in exploring viable, lasting solutions. Staff Sgt. Bob Perry Kitimat RCMP detachment [end]
Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ignatius Vandermerwe shocked members of city council Monday night when he launched into an attack on the level of drug and alcohol abuse in the community. And that abuse was translating into too much operating time at Kitimat General being taken up treating "frivolous injuries" or trauma. Vandermerwe was also critical at what he perceived to be the contrast between the amount of effort the RCMP put into seat belt/driver license checks and enforcement of drug and alcohol laws. [continues 577 words]
Kitimatians may not have got answers, but at least the Northern Health Authority's June 2 open house gave them a chance to raise their concerns. And they got a promise those concerns would be heeded. The session here was one of a series being held by the NHA called Let's Talk About Health. Chief medical officer Dr. David Bowering was the authority's point man at the open house and explained its intent. "The point of this exercise is not to sit down at the table and give people answers, it really is a listening exercise." [continues 486 words]
VICTORIA - NDP leader Carole James has picked a political winner in challenging the Liberals on organized crime. James launched her attack recently, calling on Premier Gordon Campbell to spend more on crime-fighting and demanding a public inquiry into our enforcement efforts. The move was opportunistic, reminding the public of the current mysterious scandal swirling around the federal and provincial Liberals. But it's also a good issue for the NDP. The gap between the Liberals' get-tough rhetoric and their actions is wide, and criminals are getting a break from Liberal budget cuts. [continues 574 words]
Two weeks ago we ran Addictions: Getting In which had Northwest Addiction Services counsellor Dan O'Neill bluntly describing the insidious nature of drug and alcohol addiction and its sad consequences. This week we look at the road back. What is Northwest Addictions? What does Dan O'Neill offer? How do people get on the road back - and what do they need to do to complete the journey? O'Neill says NAS is essentially an outpatient clinic. He offers counselling one-on-one, to couples and to families. He also refers people to treatment clinics. [continues 378 words]
Dan O'Neill is the counsellor at Kitimat's Northwest Addictions Service office, located on the third floor of Century House. As such, he knows better than anyone the extent of addiction problems in our community. And in blunt terms he shares that knowledge with Sentinel readers. Alcohol and marijuana are called 'gateway drugs' for a reason, says Northwest Addictions Services counsellor Dan O'Neill. That's because those who become addicted to them "more often than not" move on to hard drugs. [continues 429 words]
I found it in poor taste in the September 24 edition of the Sentinel to advertise the where "magic mushrooms" are growing in town (Police Beat). My concern is that people who would like to try these drugs will either: a) know exactly where to obtain some and further an addiction to drugs, or b) may make a crucial error by ingesting a deadlier, poisonous mushroom. Another question I have is if the police and other authority figures know the locations to where drugs such as these are growing - especially within town limits - why do they not do something about it? Has anything been attempted? Surely there are many organic, enviro-friendly ways of preventing the growth of these mushrooms. Come on Kitimat, let's step up to the plate and take responsibility for keeping our youth drug free. I dare you. Andrea Webb [end]
Dear sir, Re: Sixteen charged in northwest drug sweep (Sentinel, Aug. 13), why do governments prohibit certain drugs? Is it to protect users from harm? No, that can't be the reason because users suffer more (adulterated drugs and jail time) when a drug is banned as compared to when it is legally available. My wife and I became well acquainted with this aspect of government policy when we lost our 19-year-old son to street heroin in 1993. Many more people died from the effects of bad booze during Prohibition than when alcohol was legally available. [continues 176 words]
DARE grads are now ready to tackle tough decisions that come with growing up. Kids in Grades 5 and 6 at St. Anthony's have been involved in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program since the early part of the year and recently received certificates recognizing completion during a ceremony at Christ The King parish. Essays were handed in at the end of the program, describing their time in the program and outlining things they will take with theme into the future. [continues 203 words]
