Pubdate: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 Source: Pipestone Flyer (CN AB) Copyright: 2005, Pipestone Publishing, Millet, Alberta Contact: http://www.pipestoneflyer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3736 Author: Lynette Kent JUST SAY NO . . . Was Good Advice at the Time, but the City of Leduc Has Gone A Lot Further Recently in Its All-Out War Against Drugs. In December 2004 a committee was developed with membership drawn from a variety of local sources, and which immediately drew up its brief and succinct vision statement: becoming a drug aware and drug resistant community. Its purpose is to address drug-related issues in the city of Leduc by means of its five sub-committees--enforcement, identification/intervention, community networking, advocacy and treatment, and prevention and education. Its key roles are to identify, monitor, recommend and report to city council as a sub-committee of the local Family and Community Support Services board. "We set up these goals at the first meeting," says Alderman Dana Smith, "and LCDAC will include representatives from AADAC, the RCMP, Child and Family Services, Corrections Services, Boys & Girls Club, Capital Health, the Church Ministerial, City Council, FCSS board, FCSS staff, and the general public." Meeting monthly both as a general committee and in sub-committee, the group has "looked at innovative ways to respond to drug issues. For example, use of a drug dog, and increased visual interaction with RCMP at schools," she said. Recently the city of Leduc sent a letter to the judicial system's federal crown prosecutor about stiffer penalties to be imposed in drug-related issues, "similar to a Victim Impact Statement, to show our community does not support drugs," says Alderman Smith. She notes that they have attempted to install a court fine program whereby a convicted drug offender might also be required to pay a fine "which would be given to LCDAC, in addition to any other sentence." "At present we are working on a brochure to make information available about the committee, drug facts and related information, along with contact numbers. And we're working at putting a system together to educate local businesses to notice suspicious purchases, such as ingredients for meth, and placing high risk items behind counters. We'll instruct business owners what to look for, things that would be on a list of ingredients," says Smith. Inspector Mark Dibblee, officer in charge of the Leduc regional detachment, is encouraged by recent progress in weakening the drug trade. "You know there's a problem when there's an increase of thefts of and from vehicles, robberies, and activity indicating gang activity," he explained. Recently the police undertook a three-month undercover operation in the area, which was extended to seven months. "We charged 35 individuals, with 90 charges of trafficking." The city's 2005 budget had included funding for two more full time RCMP members for drug-related problems, and the results, says Dibblee, have been obvious. But he credits the Leduc City Drug Action Committee with much of its success. "The city took a 360-degree approach to the problem. The realization is that as long as there's demand, there's supply. It creates problems for the community, everyone needs to be involved." In 2006 schools will be a focus for education, and businesses as well. "Parents should not be the last to know if their children are on drugs," says Dibblee. "It's the lack of contact with them which is usually the problem." He said that if parents are reluctant to be involved with their children's lives, they may find themselves "paying for it. Parents with money, who are affluent, sometimes throw money at their kids to keep them out of their hair." He said drug dealers are targeting kids "as young as ten to sell drugs. They [the dealers] know kids who are caught will get lenient punishment. And there are always more ten-year-olds." Consequently, school presentations are essential. The recent significant arrests and seizures, says Dibblee, give him reason to believe "the drug problem [in the Leduc region] is being knocked to its knees, and we're going to keep it there." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake