Criminology professor Darryl Plecas, who advised Surrey Mayor Diane Watts on her city's new Crime Reduction Strategy, predicted that the program could produce a 25-per-cent reduction in crime "over the next couple of years." That would be an extraordinary accomplishment if the University College of the Fraser Valley professor is right, but we'll have to wait to see if the program lives up to its advance billing. Indeed, the most striking thing about the program thus far is the rhetoric that accompanied the announcement of the strategy. In a press release, for example, Surrey describes the program as a "complete paradigm shift from what is currently being done in Canadian municipalities to combat crime." [continues 389 words]
Kudos to The Register-Guard for printing Jim Greig's outstanding Feb. 16 guest viewpoint, "Marijuana more than medicinal." The people of Oregon can't help but benefit by moving away from blind adherence to a federal policy built upon racism, xenophobia and a corrupted moral and legal foundation. It is the prohibition of cannabis which makes it so valuable that patients get robbed and assaulted for their gardens. All across the western states, criminal gangs and syndicates invade our national parks and forests growing huge farms of pot. [continues 90 words]
Television Cameras To Be Installed In High-Crime Areas Such As Shopping Centres Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts unveiled an ambitious crime reduction strategy Monday that will incorporate measures used by British and U.S. authorities to reduce crime in areas plagued by property crime, violence, drug addiction and prostitution. "It's an approach that seeks to incorporate all the key stakeholders and create one unified, comprehensive plan," she said of the 106 recommendations that make up the package. Among the measures announced are: [continues 857 words]
Dear Editor - Re: 'The call of crack is so strong: panellist' (Guelph Mercury, Feb. 19). "I wish it could be as simple as Kyoto," one person said at a panel discussion on drug addiction last weekend. It's a lot simpler than Kyoto if you stop jerking your knees and use your brain instead. The cost of crack cocaine is a couple of pennies per dose. Another penny would assure its purity and accurate dosing. Armies all over the world -- international and national military forces as well as police and paramilitary groups of all kinds -- are trying to stop people who'll help anyone maintain such a habit, but not many among them know -- and of those, there are quite a few who don't care anyway -- that prohibition of things people want only really does one thing well: creates incredibly profitable black markets. [continues 106 words]
Similar To Those That Use Methadone To Treat Heroin Users A drug addiction treatment initiative that provides cocaine users with prescription drugs to kick the habit is being launched in Vancouver today. The program, run by a non-profit organization called Inner Change, has the backing of Mayor Sam Sullivan and Vancouver Coastal Health's Dr. John Blatherwick. Both will be on hand at the launching ceremony being held at the Plaza 500 Hotel, at 11 a.m. People addicted to crack cocaine will be given prescription oral stimulants in a manner similar to how methadone is used as a replacement drug for heroin addicts. Blatherwick said the project would require getting an exemption from Health Canada, cknw.com reports. Doctors are not allowed to prescribe the drugs for reasons other than Attention Deficit Disorder or narcolepsy. [end]
Illegal Immigrant Charged With Drug Possession, Trafficking OCALA - A man who was pulled over by Marion County sheriff's deputies for running a red light on Friday had thousands of dollars worth of methamphetamine concealed in two stuffed animals, according to authorities from the Sheriff's Office and law enforcement agents in the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Sheriff's officials said Lt. Ruamen DelaRua stopped a gold-colored Mitsubishi for failure to stop at the stoplight at the intersection of Northeast Seventh Street and Baseline Road. [continues 216 words]
Ed. note: This statement was released this week, congratulating the RCMP for their work in seizing 4.95 kilograms of cocaine and 41 kilograms of marijuana last Saturday. On behalf of the Yukon government, I applaud the RCMP's efforts in addressing substance abuse in our communities. Through their efforts over the weekend, the RCMP has significantly reduced the amount of drugs - and the harm that they do - in Yukon communities. Clearly, the seizure of this magnitude of illicit drugs demonstrates the RCMP's commitment to public safety, and this is a commitment our government shares. [continues 171 words]
Students learn about drugs and alcohol, and pledge to stay away from them By Trish Hogue Grade 7 students from Balmoral school recently graduated from a 10-week DARE course, where they learned about many aspects of drug abuse. DARE (drug.abuse.resistance.education) is a program run in partnership with schools and police agencies across North America that teaches kids about the effects of drugs and ways to be drug-free. Const. Sandy Deibert, Stonewall RCMP and DARE officer, said the program is available to any school that is interested, and the program mainly focuses on tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol use. [continues 607 words]
WAYNESVILLE -- DSS won't always remove a child from a home when a parent is using drugs and instead tries to get an overall picture of the case before taking that step, the director of Haywood County's Department of Social Services said. Director Tony Beaman made his comments about general social services practices. His agency was watching a 22-month-old child who died after overdosing on her mother's painkillers. Beaman on Friday said he could not comment specifically about the case, other than to say his agency followed its procedure. [continues 812 words]
New Program Set Up At Elementary & High Schools Oliver-Osoyoos RCMP Staff Sergeant Kurt Lozinski says the new school liaison program, which co-ordinates visits to the elementary and high schools by local officers, is about building trust between youth and the police. "I want the youths to see us as people, friends, fathers, mothers, and not just as police officers. I want the youths to have trust and confidence in the police," Lozinski says. In addition to the DARE (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) program, which places officers in the elementary school to teach a 10-week program to Grade 5 students, Lozinski says the school liaison officers will attend the schools on a regular basis. [continues 587 words]