Pubdate: Tue, 06 Dec 2016 Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON) Copyright: 2016 Metroland Media Group Ltd. Contact: http://www.therecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225 Author: Ed Grootenboer Page: A6 DRUG CULTURE Re: Fentanyl a 'game changer': Larkin - Dec. 1 Why is the availability of the drug fentanyl on our streets a "game changer" for Police Chief Larkin or for anyone else concerned about the welfare of those among us who choose to take illegal drugs? If the prevention and eradication of street drugs is indeed a game, then maybe our game plan is not working so well. Instead of facilitating street drug use by establishing "safe" injection sites, providing free needle programs, and seeing to it that the available illegal street drugs don't kill you right away, as fentanyl apparently does, would these efforts and resources not be better spent in intensifying drug use prevention and in more help for those who want to break their dependency on drugs? Expending all these efforts to make us as sure as we can that street drugs and the abuse of them are as safe as possible, and legalizing marijuana, seem a lot like condoning, if not enabling, the drug culture among us. More importantly, it sends a wrong message to our youth, in particular, who can easily conclude that using drugs is pretty safe and not nearly as hazardous as parents or teachers are saying. The common sense game plan would be to do all we can to assist those unfortunate fellow human beings who get caught up in the drug culture and help them return to a normal life. As for fentanyl and other new drugs yet to come, let them stand as danger warnings to those who are using or contemplating the use of street drugs. Ed Grootenboer Waterloo - --- MAP posted-by: Matt