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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom