Pubdate: Tue, 10 May 2005
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Copyright: 2005 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: Margaret Pelletier
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG WOES NOTHING NEW

All of a sudden, it seems that drugs are damaging families. Young people 
who are using crystal meth are "dropping out of school and employment" and 
are putting their lives in danger.

That's what has been happening in our inner cities for years with drugs of 
other names and descriptions! We've attended wake after wake of young 
people in our neighbourhood who have lost their battle with drugs and 
alcohol. Crystal meth is a terrible drug, I agree, but it is just one 
additional scourge in our neighbourhood.

Where have our politicians been when we've cried out for help? Do our kids 
matter? Or are our youth seen as having no future anyway, so that it 
doesn't matter what happens to them? When politicians talk about our youth, 
it is most often from a law-and-order perspective rather than from a 
helping point of view.

Maybe it is only children who are Caucasian and from middle- and 
upper-class families who can catch the attention of our mayor and 
Saskatchewan Party politicians, as crystal meth makes their drug problems 
more visible.

I, too, care about your children and the damaging effects of crystal meth 
on their lives. I just want you to know that our youth are just as precious 
to us as yours are to you.

Margaret Pelletier

Regina 
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MAP posted-by: Beth