Time for the discussion about drugs is now, not when it's too late
Is it time to sound the alarm bells?rnWe don't know, but there definitely seems to be a rise in violent crime in our small South Okanagan communities.
Shootings, stabbings, kidnappings, border drug busts, drug house takedowns. We seem to be having a run on these types of violent crimes and police responses.
You could argue that just one of these events seems so much larger because we live in small communities where these things just don't happen. However, when it keeps happening it is hard not to take notice. It is even harder not to wonder why it seems so much more prevalent.
And perhaps that is exactly what we should be doing.
Police have been talking to the community a lot about drugs, specifically Crystal Meth. They have sponsored public information sessions for parents and the community at large, trying to inform us as to the dangers of this relatively new drug.
Sadly, drugs are at the centre of most violent crime. Crime follows drugs and as it continues to enter our small communities, we can't help but wonder what can the average person do about it? If anything.
The police deserve credit for bringing the issue to the people. Their goal, obviously is to help parents before their kids get hooked on drugs. That is a key tool in fighting drugs – give parents the tools to help them stop drug use before it has taken hold.
However, how do we, as the common person, affect change in our communities? How do we fight back against this type of violent crime?rnWe don't know the answer, but we must start to address these issues before violent crime becomes common-place in our communities. We need to begin those discussions about drugs and violent crime now, before those discussions become irrelevant because we are simply too late
