Corporal Shannon Haubrick, from the Prince George RCMP, drugs and organized crime awareness service last week to present information on drug and alcohol awareness to local teenagers at Lake Babine's Margaret Patrick Hall. A large number of young children, teenagers, adults and elders from Lake Babine Nation turned up for the presentation and were able to gain valuable information and ask questions. According to statistics that Haubrick presented from a May 2008 Canadian study alcohol use starts as early as the ages of 12-13, marijuana use typically starts at the ages of 13-14 years old and 14-16 year olds are trying cocaine, meth-amphetamines and ecstasy. [continues 773 words]
B.C. residents are boozing more and toking up less, according to new research. The average resident drank almost 9.2 litres of pure alcohol last year, up more than 10 per cent from 8.26 litres in 2002. That's among the findings of multiple B.C. academics compiled and released by the University of Victoria's Centre for Addictions Research. The province's per capita liquor intake has been almost twice as fast as the rest of Canada. B.C. has also seen a 17 per cent jump in the number of people hospitalized because of their drinking over the past 10 years. [continues 259 words]
The Honourable Madam Justice Koenigsberg has found that the Charter of Rights were violated during the 2006 arrest of Southside resident Andrew Fidler in Burns Lake. The judgement came down during a trial in Smithers on Sept. 14 2009. Fidler alleged that his Charter of Rights were violated in two separate incidents during his 2006 arrest. First, that there was an insufficient investigation conducted prior to his arrest. Secondly when he said that excessive force was used by officers to gain control of him. [continues 1085 words]
BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation's executive director Allan Lamb, wants British Columbians to know that drivers impaired by drugs are a danger to all road users. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse released their Alcohol and Drug Use Among Drivers: British Columbia Roadside Survey for 2008. The survey showed fewer people driving after drinking, but more doing so after taking drugs. Lamb is particularly concerned that young drivers who act responsibly when it comes to combining alcohol and driving, have no idea that they could become too impaired to drive after smoking cannabis, using coke or taking their drug of choice. [continues 285 words]
The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining town and he asked me a rhetorical quest ion, "Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?" I replied: I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday mornings. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather. [continues 217 words]
Editor: James Williams sincerity in his letter, "Efforts made for a drug and alcohol free reserve", (LD News, Feb. 5), is touching. If Mr. Williams believes that drugs are the cause of the problems on his reserve, I wish him well in his endeavors to eradicate their use. However, drugs and alcohol are more likely a symptom of larger issues. Prohibition doesn't work because it is not the alcohol or drugs that cause the problems that concern Mr. Williams. Taking away the drugs and alcohol will only leave the despair that has been caused by a lack of opportunity and years of being treated like second-class citizens. These are the issues that should concern Mr. Williams and all Canadians. Moe Brondum North Battleford, Saskatchewan [end]
Editor: I would like to tell you a story about myself in the past and how I loved to drink with my friends. Sooner or later I really got into it and almost lost everything that worked really hard for. I was a bush worker and made good money but it didn't last. My wife Nancy and I talked for a long time about having a drug and alcohol free reserve, and finally my wife went to the doctor's office and met this new doctor in town and talked about people drinking too much and taking drugs. [continues 143 words]
The Burns Lake RCMP would like to clarify its position on the Crystal Meth problem that has impacted many communities in BC, including Burns Lake. In reference to an article published in the May 24, 2006 paper, titled "Solicitor General keeps Meth ingredients on the shelf," the Burns Lake RCMP does not disagree with the Solicitor General's views that bulk importation of Crystal Meth components are a root problem behind drug production. And we welcome any solution that targets that root cause and any other community initiatives/program/project that helps reduce, deter, or detect Crystal Meth production in our community, because this drug has no boundaries. [continues 84 words]
Burns Lake RCMP welcomes a NDP bill to restrict the sale of common cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient in crystal methamphetamine. But the bill has failed to impress Solicitor General John Les, even after it received the support of the B.C. Federation of Police Officers. Les said he has received extensive advice about drug labs, and police management has made it "very clear that our issue is the bulk importation" of crystal meth components. Police have intercepted shipping containers from Asia containing large amounts of precursor chemicals, and large, sophisticated labs run by organized crime. [continues 159 words]
The Hepatitis C Council of B.C. has put out a mayday call as B.C.'s infection rate has risen to twice the national average. "People are dying from Hepatitis C needlessly," said council chair Ken Thompson. The council estimates more than 6,000 people are currently living with the disease and another 1,500 to 2,400 new infections will be reported this year. Statistics from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control indicate between 60 and 80 of those will occur in the Northwest. [continues 456 words]
Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under new B.C. legislation. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation. Marijuana grow ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. "With these amendments, municipalities will now be able to obtain information from electricity companies about residences with unusual power consumption." [continues 160 words]
Crystal meth over-ramps the central nervous system, eliminating feelings of pain, hunger and fatigue. The experience elevates the mind to a state of extreme focus, productivity and euphoria. These and other positive effects last up to 12 hours. The RCMP says this creates a particular threat to children because the effects last 1,200 per cent longer than crack cocaine, at one- quarter the price. The standard 0.1 gram bag, called a "point," costs between $5 and $10. Once the effects wear off, a user will experience general nausea and stomach cramps to varying degrees. Feelings of extreme guilt are common, as are unpredictable periods of anger. [continues 167 words]
Area residents packed into Lakes District Senior Secondary last Monday for a special presentation on crystal methamphetamine. Keynote speaker, drug and alcohol councilor Angela Marshall, urged Burns Lake to be especially vigilant in reporting suspected meth labs and dealers, noting rural communities are favored for meth production. "It's perfect. Making meth produces a strong odour, so ideally you would want to set up your lab away from large populations, and nosey neighbors." Marshall, who has delivered meth awareness presentations to audiences world wide, including to the United Nations, added that labs are also very simple to build. [continues 505 words]
The Vancouver-based Kaiser Foundation has launched an awards program that will provide six awards of $10,000 each for people who promote healthier living for substance abusers. The National Harm Reduction Awards are to be given for excellence in six categories: public policy, community programming, aboriginal programming, mental health and substance use programming, leadership and youth leadership. "Harm reduction services increase the possibility that drug users will re-engage in the broader society, lead productive lives and quit using drugs, instead of contracting and transmitting infectious diseases or succumbing to drug overdose death," said Dr. Perry Kendall, provincial health officer for B.C. The deadline for nominations is March 22. Details and nomination forms are available at http://www.kaiserfoundation.ca/awards [end]
An industry led initiative means logging drivers could face more rigorous drug and alcohol testing within the year. The Safety Accord Forestry Enterprise (SAFE) Companies initiative was announced Mid-January, coming on the back of a year in which 43 forest workers died in the province. One of these was logging truck driver Lloyd Booth who was killed when his loaded truck went off the side of Raspberry Road, Northwest of Houston Dec. 8. A B.C. Coroners Service report said marijuana was found in his blood. [continues 222 words]
A movie performer stood in the halls of Lakes District secondary on Wednesday, unrecognized. Vancouver's Randy Miller, one of those appearing in Through a Blue Lens, which many of the students at the school had seen Oct. 25, was approached by a couple of students. "Is the guy from Through a Blue Lens in there?" one asked, gesturing to the gymnasium. "Not right now," said Miller with a bit of a smile. "They're showing a video clip, then he'll be back in there." [continues 426 words]
The Canadian Senate, who held a special committee on illegal drugs, has recently released a new report on the legalization of marijuana. The controversial report has recommended that marijuana and hashish be legalized and regulated by the Government of Canada within a five year period. Across the country, opinions are mixed on the new recommendations from this un-elected form of government. The report was well over 600 pages long and states that, Marijuana is not a health risk. The Senate held more than 40 days of public hearings and heard from over 100 witnesses, including doctors, lawyers and advocates. Other countries with more liberal stances on the drug were also studied for the effects of decriminalized marijuana laws. [continues 558 words]
