Pubdate: Wed, 02 Apr 2008
Source: Vankleek Hill Review, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 The Vankleek Hill Review
Contact:  http://www.thereview.on.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2419
Author: Andre Dumont

PRESCOTT AND RUSSELL ANTI-DRUG TASK FORCE

Following a first information session last week in Embrun, Russell 
Mayor Ken Hill announced that the Prescott and Russell Anti-Drug Task 
Force "would be set up very soon".

When he was sworn in last December as Warden of the United Counties 
of Prescott and Russell, Hill said he intended to fight drug-related 
criminal activity.

Some 70 community leaders responded to his invitation to a first 
meeting towards an Anti-Drug Task Force for the region. Of that 
number, 20 influential citizens expressed interest in being part of 
the solution.

Presentations by the Mayor of Stratford, Dan Mathieson, as well as 
representatives of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ontario 
Provincial Police didn't take long to convince participants that 
drugs production and distribution is a huge problem.

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health for the Eastern 
Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), presented shocking findings, including 
one that shows that one third of all youth surveyed as part of an 
EOHU study had smoked a joint already once in their lives.

The EOHU study also showed that 8.3% of grade 7 to 12 students in 
Prescott County admitted having taken amphetamines.

The dangers linked to this criminal activity are present in our very 
own backyard, Hill said. "My goal is to set up the Anti-Drug Task 
Force so that we may eradicate the grow operations and drugs that are 
ruining the lives of some of our children."

Hill believes the community is aware of the dangers caused by these 
drugs and that citizens are prepared to work together to fight them. 
"Drugs, those who produce them and those who sell them are not 
welcome here," Hilll said.
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