Fairview RCMP will be stepping up drug enforcement this spring to counteract a recent increase in the abuse of pharmaceutical narcotics and other drugs. "We definitely have an OxyContin problem in the community. We're getting more and more complaints with people coming (into the detachment) to report their OxyContin stolen," said Sgt. Bruce Bracken. "Living in a small town, we may not realize there is a problem with it, but for a while we were getting a complaint a week," he told Fairview town council last week. [continues 273 words]
Parents need to present their children with clear choices and consequences when it comes to drug use--either don't do drugs, or get out of the house. Dare to Care spokesman and public speaker Dwayne Peace was back in Fairview last week to talk to parents about drugs and about how conscientious parenting techniques can lead to drug-free kids. The Fairview Drug Awareness Coalition sponsored Peace's return and he took the opportunity to speak to parents on Wednesday evening and FHS students on Thursday morning and afternoon. [continues 681 words]
The Fairview and Area Drug Coalition is working on a number of projects for next year it hopes will help the families of those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. The Coalition is responsible for bringing drug expert Steve Walton to Fairview last spring as well as 'Dare to Care' motivational speaker Duane Peace to FHS last fall, but are currently looking to act in an even more direct way by offering its own programs and educational resources to those who seek it out in Fairview. [continues 405 words]
Firefighters rush to fires, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) rush to medical emergencies, and police rush to the scene of a crime. They are always the first to respond. But what if the fire was started in a drug lab? What if it was a drug dealer who had the heart attack? And what if the scene of the crime is booby-trapped? These are all scenarios that retired drug enforcement officer Steve Walton wants our area first responders to take to heart. He spoke to firefighters, EMTs, and local police on what to expect in those situations last Tuesday in Hines Creek and Thursday in Fairview. [continues 447 words]
Everyone in the community needs to be educated to fend off the invasion of illicit drugs that are finding their way into more and more rural areas around the province says a drug expert from Calgary. Retired detective Steve Walton toured several schools in the area last week, speaking to both students and parents about the dangers of drug-use, and their growing prevalence in rural areas like Fairview and Hines Creek. "A drug trend that we've watched very closely in law enforcement and in drug education is what is referred to as the migration of the drug criminal," said Walton. [continues 822 words]
Saskatchewan stores should adopt a program that helps retailers spot crystal methamphetamine manufacturers, say two Saskatchewan Party MLAs. Opposition MLAs Brenda Bakken and June Draude met Tuesday with two groups representing retailers and health product manufacturers. The Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) and NDMAC, a national association representing manufacturers, marketers and distributors of health products, have helped develop the Meth Watch Program. The program's primary goal is to educate store managers and employees that ingredients in legal products such as cough and cold medicines can be converted into methamphetamines. Through education, the program would help retailers spot suspicious purchases, which they would in turn report to the police. [continues 230 words]
