Crack concerns hit N. Shore JUDGING from the e- mail messages I received after last week’s column on crack cocaine avail- able in high schools, it seems many people are afraid of the potential problems and just as many are unaware of the dangers to their children. As depicted last week, the incident involving a threat with a handgun over a crack debr at Terry Fox secondary in Coquitlam, should bring home to all of us that the crack problem is no longer unique to the Downtown Eastside. Crack cocaine is made trom powdered cocaine. It is made by mixing powdered cocaine with a substance, usu- ally something as simple as baking soda, which draws all the additives or “cut” from the powdered cocaine. This is done by heating the mixture resulting in a soliditied slab or “cookie” of virtually pure cocaine. Once dried, the cookie is cut up inte small pieces about the size ofa chocolate chip. These pieces are about an eighth ofa gram and sell for $20. Some crack dealers go one step further and cut the “twenty” in half. These small- er pieces are known as “dimes” and sell for $10 each. They are readily avail- able anywhere on the Downtown Eastside and increasingly more and more available in the bedroom communities of the Lower Mainland. Crack cocaine is more addictive than powdered cocaine because of its purity and the method of ingestion. Crack must be smoked and cannot be injected or snorted. Many crack uses say they were addicted to it after the first time they smoked it. masilibax Waterfront: tax issue is simple Dear Editor: The North Shore News’ May 16 editorial addressed the issue of tax rates for waterfront industry. The edi- torial closed with the com- ment, “Council is going to need biblical wisdean to satis- fy everyone.” “This tax issue is not com- plicated. The rate of tax increase imposed on the industrial watertront rate class during the last decade has been far higher than thar placed on the residential and commer- cial business rate classes. Malcolm McLaren Allied Shipbuilders Ltd. STUDI “ Native JEWELLERY/ Wepbopinc Rincs” : crime and i) punishment Crack cocaine is responsi- ble tor much of the crime committed today. Murder, robbery, duto theft, burglary, shoplifting, you name it and the “erackheads” do it. The initial short-lived euphoria of a drug as power- ful as crack is followed by a “crash.” This involves anxiety, depression, irritability, extreme fatigue and often paranoia. An intense craving “... VPD officers have checked North Shore teens hanging around known crack corners in the city.” for more develops. Hence the easily cultivated addiction to the drug. Heavy users become com- ulsive and repetitive in their ehaviour. Often tactile hallu- cinations can occur such as insects crawling beneath the skin. This may result in the addict literally tearing away at his or her flesh trying in vain to get the bugs out. Ir is very ugly to see. The easily achieved addic- tion of crack users is the pri- mary reason for its rapid spread throughout the U.S. over the past 10 or so vears and now across Canada. The dealers have a built-in return clientele, The drug is cheap and readily available. I told you last week that North Shore school trustee . and Vancouver Police Staff . Sergeant Doug Mackay-Dunn said VPD ofticers have checked North Shore teens hanging around known crack corners in the city, A tew days ago, North Vancouver ROMP executed a search warrant on a crack house ii Lynn Valley. Apart trom the drugs and money seized, the Mounties recov: ered six van loads of suspect- ed stolen property. No, that’s not a typo. From one crack house, they got six van loads. There's no doubt that crack cocaine has come to the North Shore, Scared yet? There’s more. As insidious as all this is, the worst part is that crack dealers target young people and especially young girls. At the anti-drug rally host- ed by MP Randy White held fast week in Abborsford, Mackay-Dunn told the 3,000 or so assembled concerned parents the story of Mandy Blakemore. While tragic, Mandy’s story is not, by any stretch of the imagination, unique. She was 17 when her par- ents were killed in a car acci- dent. Left vulnerable by the tragedy, the pretty young girl was a magnet for the predato- ry pimps and crack dealers. Once addicted, she had to work to feed her habit by self- ing her body, in the process losing her self-respect as well as her innocence. The ravages of crack took her looks and within a short while she was put out onto the streets of the Downtown Eastside. From high school in Courtney to hooking on the skids in ovo short years. Mackay-Dunn picks up the story. “Last summer, two of my officers spoke with Mandy as she sat in the north lane of the 100 block of East Hastings surrounded by a pile of garbage. She wanted to kéep her only possession of value — her crack pipe.” “She also told the officers she wanted to die. A few days later, she got her wish,” said Mackay-Dunn, “She died of hear? failure brought on by drug abuse, crack.” ‘The post mortem revealed ue ® Underground Parking Off 2nd Closed Sun 986- 4785 Ladies Active Swim Suits * Youth Snorkel Sets : ¢ Learn to Swim . Accessories by Speedo she was infected with Hepatitis, HIV and a host of other diseases. Mandy Blakemore was 23 years old when she died. According to Mackay- Duan, she had tried to get help for her addiction a few times, Her sister did every- thing she could to assist and support her. Untortunately, there ar: only 14 drug re-hab beds in the whole province and over 20,000 addicts. There was no help for Mandy. Said Mackay-Dunn, “Mandy could have been saved. She was aliowed to die a terrible death.” “This government cares more for sea beds than re-hab beds,” concluded Mackay- Duan. Where does all this leave us? Crack is creeping into our neighbourhoods and our schools. Parents and teachers need to be exceptionally vigilant. Principals and school boards must get their collective heads out of the sand and admit the problem exists and do everything, they can to combat the ravages of crack. The government needs to refocus its priorities in the way the war on drugs is being waged. It is simply not acceptable to have only 14 re- hab beds in this province. Nor is it acceptable for the federal government to with- hold funding for the RCMP so thar detachments and squads who are at the sharp end of the war are being left shorthanded and bereft of the manpower and resources to do the job that needs to be done. 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