Pubdate: Wed, 08 Jun 2005
Source: Oliver Chronicle (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Oliver Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.oliverchronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/875
Author: Wendy Johnson

DRUGS ARE A CONTINUING PROBLEM IN OLIVER

Oliver has a seamy underside, one that often goes unrecognized, driven
by illegal drugs and the culture born of its use. Beneath the green
and wholesome facade of agriculture and small town mores lies a
sickness that is showing its face in the increasing number of thefts
and other crimes tied to drug use.

"Drugs are definitely a problem in town, "commented RCMP Const. Don
Wrigglesworth.

And there is no hesitation on his part when asked what the most
prevalent drug is in this area and which one carries the biggest
threat to the community's well-being.

"Oh, cocaine, no question. As far as damage to people's health and the
crime rates are concerned--theft of vehicles, theft from vehicles,
thefts from homes and businesses--all revolve around the use of
cocaine, crack cocaine and to a certain degree, crystal meth."

And often those types of crimes are ones of opportunity, dependent on
weather, the time of year and even who has recently been released from
jail.

Last March a flurry of drug related crimes prompted police to ask for
the public's help in combating the growing scourge in the region by
anonymously reporting any drug deals witnessed or the whereabouts of
known and/or suspected neighbourhood `grow-ops.'

Three months after the request was issued, RCMP are giving it mixed
reviews. Yes, the police have received some helpful tips from people
about marijuana grow operations, but they would like to see more input
from the public, because these situations breed violence.

However, the very nature of the problem creates frustration for both
the townspeople and the peace officers who have sworn to protect them.
The detachment office might receive 20 calls from individuals
reporting deals going on at 20 different sites, but manpower realities
limit attendance to no more than a few responses at the time. And
since deals are made in swift slices of time, by the time a police
officer attends the scene the participants have disappeared.

"Customers are always moving, depending on where the supply is, and
suppliers come and go--supplanted or beaten up by someone else," said
Wrigglesworth.

Crystal meth labs are proving to be even more elusive to locate.
Unlike grow-ops bound to one place for several months until the crop
has matured, meth labs are portable and can be operated from a truck.

What might surprise residents is the age of many serious drug users.
The idea that it is only a community's youth who are abusing hard
drugs is going the way of flat earth proponents. According to police,
adults 30 years of age and older are succumbing to the needle, rubber,
spoon and flame.

"And I don't see the transients adding to that drug base. Fruit
pickers tend to gravitate to pot and alcohol, not cocaine."

And if violence is a by-product of the drug trade, prostitution is an
offspring as well--Oliver has a small core of girls and women who are
turning tricks to pay for their habits.

Is the situation getting worse? Wrigglesworth hedges on that answer,
but he does say that an estimate was done last summer on the number of
crack addicts in Oliver.

"It has been estimated there are 500 crack users in town, and that's
high given its population.

"The bottom line is there are addictions out there. We can't stop the
drugs; we just try to be a deterrent to the drug dealers out there."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin