Pubdate: Sat, 16 Nov 2002 Source: Recorder & Times, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 Recorder and Times Contact: http://www.recorder.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2216 Author: Nick Gardiner POLICE STRESS ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE Concern about teen abuse of alcohol, marijuana and medications is high on the agenda as the Brockville Police Service marks Drug Awareness Week Nov. 17 to 23. "People say, 'It's just my medicine,' like there's no big deal with these drugs," said Chief Barry King. King notes, however, there may be serious consequences for abusing alcohol and mixing different drugs. Binge drinking, for instance, may lead to alcohol poisoning and is especially dangerous in combination with marijuana and prescription drugs, he said. "There can be more problems associated with these substances than the hard drugs," King said. Sgt. Doug Locke, community services officer, said the 2001 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey indicates 40 per cent of Grade 11 students have reported drinking alcohol to the point of becoming ill in the month before they were interviewed. Moreover, there is a marked increase in binge drinking - having five or more beers or alcoholic drinks at one sitting - among all teens. "The thing that scares me is the amount of binge drinking among teens. It's gone up from 17 per cent to 28 per cent from 1993 to 1999. That's a huge increase," he said. Meanwhile, marijuana is identified as the number one concern among people seeking treatment for drug problems. "We're telling young people, 'Keep your dreams alive. Stay drug free. You are 100 per cent of Canada's future,'" he said. Locke visits city schools throughout the year spreading an anti-drug message through the Very Effective People program. A regional meeting of Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving next Wednesday at TISS will be another chance to hammer the message home, he said. "Our message to young people is to be drug free, no alcohol, no drugs," he said. Drug use often leads to criminal activity, he said. "A lot of B&E's and thefts are the result of people supporting their drug habits," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom